Kleis, Annelle

Annelle Kleis, 88, of Maquoketa, died Thursday, May 9, 2013, at the Maquoketa Care Center. A celebration of Annelle's life will be 11 a.m. Monday, May 13, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa, where visitation will be before the service from 9:30 until 11 a.m. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa.

Annelle Reed was born March 2, 1925, in Hartsville, Tenn., to Floyd and Elizabeth (Bridgewater) Reed. She graduated from Lebanon High School in 1945 with honors. She went to Nashville and worked in the office at a shoe manufacturing company. She joined the YWCA and at a Christian dance met a soldier named Don from Camp Campbell, Ky. They were married Aug. 15, 1945, in Maquoketa, Iowa. To this union three children were born: Don Jr., David and Maribeth.

After Don's honorable discharge, they farmed in the Baldwin area for 17 years. In 1962, they moved to Maquoketa and she was employed at Paetz Super Valu, Thorp Credit Inc. and the AEA, retiring in 1985 due to health reasons.

Annelle was a member of First United Methodist Church in Maquoketa, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and the Jackson County Public Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed counted cross stitch, reading and especially her children and grandchildren's activities. She also enjoyed attending family and class reunions in Tennessee.

Those left to honor Annelle's memory include her children, Don (Carol) Kleis of Oelwein, David (Theresa Siebels) Kleis of Anamosa and Maribeth Nehre of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Billie Hix of Grant, Tenn.; and a brother, Floyd Reed of Nashville, Tenn.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Jack; and her husband, Donald on Jan. 2, 2011.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Maquoketa or to a charity of the donor's choice.

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