Irene L. (Hahn) Kleckner

Irene Lavonne Kleckner, age 88, of Osage, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage, Iowa.

Irene Lavonne Kleckner was born on October 25, 1934, in Marquette, Iowa, to Milton and Bertha (Adney) Hahn. She was baptized at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Marquette, Iowa, and started school in a one-room schoolhouse in Giard, IA, until the 4th grade.  It was then that the family moved to Mason City, IA. Irene finished her last two years of High School in Swaledale, Iowa, and attended Mason City Junior College for two years before teaching in Iowa Falls for three years, from 1955 to 1958. During the summer of 1956, Irene joined two other teachers and they toured Europe on bicycles, visiting England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Ireland.

On May 2, 1958, Irene met her future husband, Rex, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. The very next day on May 3, she went on her first date with Rex where they went bowling in Iowa Falls.  Four months later, on September 7, 1958, Irene and Rex were married at the Methodist Church in Rudd, IA.  They then moved to Elkader, IA in November of 1958 where they rented a farm and milked cows. Two children (Julie and Curt) were born while living there. In February of 1962, they bought a farm south of LeRoy, MN, where they stayed for many years until moving off the farm in 2015.

Irene dedicated her life to volunteer work, such as 4H leadership, county and state extension councils, Sunday School and Confirmation teaching, and volunteering at Riceville Schools. Her baking talent was also recognized, as she entered ‘Milk Made Magic’ contests in the 60’s, and was awarded a purple ribbon at the Iowa State Fair for her Rhubarb Bundt Cake and demonstrated Dutch Butter Cookies in front of the state fair grandstand. Irene was also on the ‘speakers list’ for SE MN churches and received accolades for her presentations.  In 1986, Irene earned her BA degree at Buena Vista College and she started substitute teaching at the local schools in the area.

Irene is survived by her son Curt Kleckner of Osage, IA; son Kent (Jill) Kleckner of Decorah, IA; 6 grandchildren Jesse Baird, Joshua Baird, Jacob Baird, Lydia Kleckner, Josie Kleckner and Eliot Kleckner; 2 great-grandchildren Piper and Gemma, and sister Lorna Thompson of Rockwell, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Rex; siblings Bud, Marie, Rosie and Larry; daughter Julie; and granddaughter Julia.

Family and friends are invited to the funeral service for Irene on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the LeRoy Lutheran Church in LeRoy, MN, with Rev. Herman Bakker officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Following the service, Irene will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville, IA.

Online condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.

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