Kathleen "Kay" (McCleary) Klepfer

Kathleen “Kay” Klepfer, 89, of Hamilton, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Maple Grove Memory Care in Carthage, Illinois.

Kay was born on September 28, 1934, in Keokuk, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond John and Helen Virjean (Ewers) McCleary. On December 29, 1956, she was united in marriage to Louis “Bud” Klepfer in Keokuk, Iowa. He preceded her in death on October 9, 2016.

Kay was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk, the Keokuk Yacht Club, and co-owned the Tipenbud Grill with her husband. She also worked in the offices at Iowa Gateway Terminal.

Kay always believed in trying to be the funniest person in the room, and found reasons to laugh every day, even when life was hard. Her big personality made her friends anywhere she went, and she loved nothing more than spending time with those she loved. One of her greatest joys in life came from marrying her high school sweetheart, Bud. He was her best friend and the love of her life. Whether it was raising their family, owning their business, or simply boating on the river, there was no one else she would have rather done life with.

Kay is survived by one son Kerry (Judy) Klepfer of Keokuk, Iowa; four daughters: Trudy (Mark) Frank of Chicago, Illinois, Kathy Klepfer of Chicago, Linda (Michael) Clarizio of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Stephanie (Mike) Fehl of Boca Raton, Florida; six grandchildren: Nate (Tara) Klepfer, Danielle (Josh) Anderson, Jordan (Stephanie) Frank, Taylor (Patrick) Short and Evan (Fiancé Taylor Real) Frank, and Mia Clarizio; seven great grandchildren, Lennon and Layne Anderson, Faye and Hattie Klepfer, Calder and Rilynn Frank, and Stratton Short; one sister-in-law Marlene Short of Hamilton, Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kay is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bud and her sister, Jean.

The family would like to thank Stacy Lunt for being a wonderful neighbor and friend to Kay and looking after her while she was in her home, and the staff of Maple Grove in Carthage for their exceptional care after.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk. A celebration of life will follow on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 3 pm at the Keokuk Yacht Club in Keokuk.

Memorials may be directed to Keokuk Area Community Foundation or The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen "Kay" (McCleary) Klepfer, please visit our floral store.