Marlene Elizabeth Kliethermes

Marlene Elizabeth (Samson) Kliethermes, age 76, of Bonnots Mill, passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Westphalia Hills.

Marlene was born February 16, 1941, in Linn, a daughter to the late August and Mary “Lizzie” (Zeilmann) Samson. 

She graduated from Linn High School and attended Central Missouri University at Warrensburg for a short time before her marriage to Edgar Kliethermes on April 15, 1961, at St. George Catholic Church in Linn. He survives of the home in Bonnots Mill.

Marlene worked at several jobs over the years, including positions at Thrifty Finance, Scholastic, Evergreen Florists, HyVee Florists, Legends Bank, and was sole proprietor of Marlene’s Cakes and Flowers.  Her main occupation was being a mother to eight children.  She also was a 4-H leader, CYO leader, church organist, member of the Home and Garden Club, and wrote the Bonnots Mill community news for the county paper for a number of years.  Marlene was a cake decorator, florist, seamstress, cook, and musician, who seldom needed to follow a pattern, recipe, or sheet music.

Marlene is survived by her husband, Edgar, Bonnots Mill.  Her children and their families are Gary and Laura Kliethermes, Knoxville TN, with daughters Riley and Haley; Dianne and Darryl Ruettgers, Taos, with daughter Jamie and Joe Schwob, and grandchildren August, Colton and Elizabeth, and son Todd; Mary Sue and Don Fontana, Prairie Home, with son John; Julie and Bryan Boeckmann, Westphalia, with children Zachary and Erin; Tom and Kristin Kliethermes, Kansas City KS, with children Lucy and Simon; Mike and Melissa Kliethermes, Westphalia, with children Mark, Mary, Marlene, Michelle, Mathew, and Monroe; Chris and Brenda Kliethermes, Des Moines IA, with children Henry and George; and Sarah and Shawn Lange, Frankenstein. 

She is also survived by her siblings and in-laws Margaret (Stanley) Strope of Linn, Ron (Shirley) Samson of Jefferson City, Russell (Debbie) Samson of Linn, Sam (Arlene) Samson of Westphalia, Wanda Samson of Rolla, Irene Kliethermes of Loose Creek, Alvina Jaegers of Bonnots Mill, Harry (Bernice) Kliethermes of Linn, Dorothy Thessen of Wardsville, Vince Prenger of Taos and Bernard Heet. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings and in-laws Bob Samson, Ralph Samson, Rosie Samson, Clifford Kliethermes, Oscar and Eva Maggie Kliethermes, Elsie and Urban LeCuru, Leslie Jaegers, Laurine Heet, Walter Thessen, and Shirley Prenger.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at Morton Chapel in Linn, with a prayer service and rosary at 3:30 p.m. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at St. Louis of France Catholic Church in Bonnots Mill, with Fr. George Kramer officiating.  Interment will be in the Parish Cemetery. 

Expressions of sympathy are suggested to the St. Louis of France Parish or Cemetery Fund or the Patient Assistance Fund at Dr. Tamara Hopkins.