Katherine Clefisch

Katherine E. Clefisch (87) died Monday morning November 2, 2009, at the Guttenberg Care Center. Visitation will be from 4 7 P.M. November 4, at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home in Garnavillo. Funeral Services will be 10 Am Thursday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, with the Rev. Hillary Burns-Kite officiating. Katherine (Kay) Elisabeth (Yohe) Clefisch was born February 27, 1922 in Clayton, Iowa 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 as 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 and college graduations including employment with the Drake and Blackstone Hotels in Chicago, Illinois from 1941 to 1944. 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 their retired to their home in Garnavillo in 1979. Ken died in 2001, and Kay stayed in her home until 2007 when she moved to Tower Living Center in Garnavillo. She remained at the living center until August of 2008, when she took residence at the Guttenberg Care Center due to health reasons and remained at the care center until her death. Kay was active in her church and community. At St. Peters, she taught Sunday School for over twenty five years, served as church treasurer for several years, and held various offices with the ELCW group for many years until her health prevented her from further service. 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. Kays 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 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.Casket Bearers: Gerald Frye, Roger Fischer, Burnell Smith, Richard Clefisch, William Rodenberg, and Roger Freese.Visitation: 4 -7 PM Wed. November 04, 2009 at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home, GarnavilloFuneral Service: 10 AM Thursday November 05, 2009 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, GarnavilloInterment: Ceres Cemetery Service Information A service summary is not available