Yvonne Klein

OLLIE-Yvonne Klein, age 89, left to be with her Lord April 2, 2018, leaving behind friends, loved ones and the loving caretakers at the Keota (Iowa) Health Care Center where she lived. Yvonne was born May 1, 1928, in Fairfield, Iowa, to Theron and Margaret (Merwyn) Erickson, where she was raised with her three siblings, Gayle, Duane and Frances, and where she enjoyed playing violin in the orchestra. After high school, Yvonne attended nurses training at Des Moines Methodist Hospital. While there, she met Willard Klein, the love of her life, and whom she married December 5, 1948. Yvonne was proud to tell people that Willard was awarded the American Farmer Degree, and it was on their farm in Iowa Falls, where Yvonne and Willard raised three children (Mark, Maureen and Calvin), countless pigs (purebred Durocs), and where they lived for 45 years. In 1990, the couple moved from Iowa Falls to Ollie, Iowa, and lived happily in and around that area until their passing. For ten years during the 1980's, Yvonne and Willard enjoyed spending time at their cabin near Snow Lake, Manitoba, a quaint Canadian town a mere 500 miles north of Winnipeg. To get to their cabin from town, Yvonne...[more]

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d Willard got in their boat, crossed one lake, navigated a small river for three miles, portaged around a small waterfall, and crossed another lake before arriving at their cabin's dock. The journey was exemplary of Yvonne's adventuresome spirit, not to mention her love for her outdoorsy Willard. In her own words, Yvonne asks, "Please do not grieve for me, for I ran the race and did my best, and am happy to join my loved ones who have gone before me. LUV U XXX, Yvonne." Survivors include three children: Mark Klein of Iowa Falls, Maureen (Stephen) Lundergan of Buffalo, New York and Calvin (Patty) Klein of Claremont, California; five grandchildren: Patrick, Kristan, Ashten, Travis and Brinn; three great grandchildren: Esme, Emma and Gavin; sister: Gayle Moore of What Cheer and brother: Duane Erickson of Athens, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Willard in 2004; great granddaughter: Eden Rae and sister: Frances Walker. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Prairie View United Methodist Church in rural Ollie, with Pastor Nathan Tabelisma officiating. Burial will be at Grant Center Pleasant Hill Cemetery in rural Bradford, Iowa, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Yvonne and her family. Tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.