Georgena R. Kleiss, 79, of Humboldt, passed away Monday, October 20 at the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. Walden Paige Officiating. Internment will be in the Harlington Cemetery, Waverly at a later date. Visitation with the family will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.
Mrs. Kleiss is survived by her Husband Leon “Butch” Kleiss of Humboldt; daughter, Sheryl (Thomas) Piskel of Puyallup, WA; son, Jeff (Christine) Kleiss of Humboldt; grandchildren, Jason (Jinny) Piskel, Kyle Piskel, Heather (Jon) Kuehnast, Amy (Scott) Anderson, and Gena (Dale) Vinsand; 7 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Shirley Fleischer of Boise, ID and Wilma Wedeking of Waverly. She is preceded in death by her parents.
Georgena Ruth Segebarth was born in rural Bremer County where she attended country schools through the sixth grade and later graduated from Waverly High School. After her education she worked for the telephone company for two years. She was united in marriage to Leon “Butch” Kleiss on November 24, 1949. She later left the phone company to care for her children and in 1958 the family made their home in Humboldt. In Humboldt she began working the hot lunch program at Humboldt High School until her retirement. In her retirement she continued to maintain her home in Humboldt as well as wintering in Texas.
Mrs. Kleiss was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt, she was active in the United Methodist Women, church boards, and was the first woman on the board of trustees. Georgena was active with the cancer society for many years and was also a member of the Iowa and Nebraska Farm Equipment Association Auxillary, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed golfing, sewing, painting pictures, and playing bridge.