Clefisch, Katherine E.

Katherine E. Clefisch, 87, died Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at the Guttenberg Care Center. Visitation: from 4 to

7 p.m. today at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home in Garnavillo. Funeral Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, with the Rev. Hillary Burns-Kite officiating.

Katherine (Kay) Elisabeth (Yohe) Clefisch was born Feb. 27, 1922, in Clayton to George and Elsie (Luther) Yohe. She was raised in the Clayton area and attended schools in Clayton and Guttenberg. Kay graduated from the Guttenberg High School in 1940 and later obtained an Associate Degree in Accounting from N.E.I.C.C. in Calmer in 1975. Kay held various bookkeeping positions in the Garnavillo/Guttenberg communities following her high school.

On May 16, 1946, Kay was united in marriage to Kenneth A. Clefisch at St. John Lutheran Church in Guttenberg. They lived in Guttenberg and Clayton until they purchased a farm two miles north of Clayton in 1949. They remained on the family farm until they retired to their home in Garnavillo in 1979; Kay remained at the residence after Ken died in October 2001 until she moved to Tower Living Center in Garnavillo in 2007; then to the Guttenberg Care Center in 2008 for health reasons. She resided until her death.

Kay was active in her church and community at St. Peter's. Kay was also very involved with the American Legion Auxiliary and held offices at the local and district level. In addition to her church and auxiliary activities, Kay enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors, gardening and flowers and spending time with her grandchildren.

Kay's survivors include two sons, Kenneth Clefisch Jr. of Winner, S.D. and Kevin (Nancy) Clefisch of Garnavillo; four grandchildren, Jill Mewhirter, Ellen Clefisch, John Clefisch and Elizabeth Clefisch; two great-grandchildren, Katlyn and Kaylee; one sister, Irene Freese; and brother, Donald Yohe.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Kenneth; her daughter, Kristine Mewhirter; one grandson, Kyle Mewhirter; two sisters, Phyllis Schute and Macella Yohe in infancy; and three brothers, Morrell Yohe, Eugene Yohe, and Virgil Yohe in infancy.

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