Wilfred Klesner

Wilfred Klesner, 87, of rural Salem, died at 3 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004.

      A memorial Mass to celebrate his life will be at a later date. The body has been cremated. Cremation Society of Eastern Iowa was in charge of arrangements.

      Mr. Klesner was born Dec. 11, 1917, the son of Joseph and Catherine Rickelman Klesner. He married Cecilia Kruse in St. Paul, Jan. 23, 1945. He was a retired farmer. He was a member of St. James Church in St. Paul and the Knights of Columbus of Houghton.

      Survivors include his wife; three sons, James of Mt. Pleasant, William of West Point, and Richard E. of rural Salem; six daughters, Linda Richard of Buckner, Mo., Sue Lund of Mt. Pleasant, Donna Wasson of Frankfort, Ky., Cindy Johnson of Danville, Julie Vollmer of Burlington and Kathy Johnson of Salem; and 34 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

      He was preceded in death by two sisters, a brother, a daughter and two sons.