Belle Klingner
November 8, 2013

Belle Louise Klingner, 98, of Quincy, IL, died Friday, November 8, 2013 in her home. She was the sixth of eight children, born on December 18, 1914, to Elias and Katie Barkley Shuey. Her seven siblings were Norma Irene (Thomas) Mitchell, William Hiram (Waunita) Shuey, Earnest Shuey, Don Elias (Frances) Shuey, Jennie Pearl (Bill) Lantz, James Elias (Mary Esther) Shuey, and Mary (Wilbur) Allen. She was the last of her generation to depart this world on both the Shuey and Klingner sides of the family.

 
Belle was born on a farm near Lucerne, MO and, in her early years, rode a pony to school, along with her sister, Jennie. Later, the family moved to Unionville, MO, where Belle graduated from high school. After high school, she attended the University of Missouri, but due to the Great Depression, she moved to Kansas City, MO, where she attended Kansas City Junior College. After graduation, she worked for Western Underwriters of Kansas City.On December 28, 1937, Belle married William Harland Klingner, whom she met while attending the University of Missouri. They moved to Quincy, IL, where they raised their family and celebrated 62 years of marriage. Belle was a member of First Union Congregational Church.

 

Belle, whose name means "Beautiful", exemplified beauty in every way. She loved gardening and nature, and had a wondrous spirit of adventure that she passed on to the following generations. Belle loved growing up in a large family and her greatest joy was raising a large family of her own. The Klingner home was always open to neighbors, friends, and family. Belle instilled in her family a love of nature and the earth and she embraced the simple joys of life. She looked forward to her morning coffee, sharing tea with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and her daily walk. In her later years, she loved nothing more than watching the sunset over the Mighty Mississippi or enjoying a picnic by Cedar Creek. She had a gift for making everyone she knew feel special and she exemplified a positive outlook on life. Belle Louise Klingner was the foundation of the Klingner family and she will be greatly missed.

 
Belle was preceded in death by her husband, William, in 1999 and by her daughter, Katherine Ann Boudreau in 2005. She leaves behind four sons: John Klingner and his wife, Edda, of Quincy, Thomas Klingner and his wife, Gloria, of Unionville, MO, James Klingner of Brussels, Belgium, and Michael Klingner and his wife, Barbara, of Quincy; two daughters: Sylvia Sue Klingner of Fair Grove, MO and Mary Loose and husband, Leland, of Norwich, CT; 21 grandchildren: John Prunkl and his wife, Lisa, of Marietta, GA, Susan Pendergrass and her husband, Tom, of Huntsville, AL, Will Prunkl of Kyoto, Japan, Mary Celeste Klingner of Ellensburg, WA, Leslie Klingner of Asheville, NC, Mary Katherine Rutherford and her husband, Scott, of Columbia, MO, Amy Chriqui and her husband, Moshe, of Trabuco Canyon, CA, Janet Lazar, and her husband, Lior Mor, of Woodland Hills, CA, Jennie Ryan and her husband, Jason, of Arlington, MA, David Loose of Boulder, CO, Karrie Webb and her husband, Russell, of Unionville, MO, Karla Klingner of Columbia, MO, Michael Klingner and his wife, Ericka, of Unionville, MO, Matthew Klingner and his wife, Michele, of Unionville, MO, Annabelle, Max, and Augustine Klingner of Brussels, Belgium, Hannah Cassens and her husband, Greg, of Quincy, Benjamin Klingner of Bowling Green, MO, William Klingner of Iowa City, IA, and Katie Klingner of Columbia, MO. ; 22 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, including special nephews, Bruce and Trent Shuey.

 
Services: 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in First Union Congregational Church with the Rev. Chuck Hetzler officiating.

 
Visitation: Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Hansen Spear Funeral Home.

 
Burial: Woodland Cemetery.

 
www.hansenspear.com

 
Memorials: Quincy Park Foundation (Bill Klingner Trail), Blessing Hospital Foundation, or Plainview Cemetery Association (Lucerne, MO)

 
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

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