FAIRBANK – Loyola Kleitsch, 98, of Fairbank passed away Monday, July 7, 2025 at Sumner Community Hospital.
Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday July 10 with a 3:30 p.m. Parish Rosary at Woods Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday, July 11 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank, Iowa.
Interment: Immaculate Conception Cemetery
Lunch will be served at the Parish Center following the services.
She was born June 25, 1927 in Bryantsburg/Hazleton, Iowa to her parents Robert and Mary (Michels) Burke. Attended country school and graduated from Hazleton High school. She married Norbert Kleitsch September 10,1947. They farmed in rural Fairbank where they raised their family of eight children. Loyola was a longtime member of the Immaculate Conception Church and the Fairbank American Legion Auxiliary.
Loyola loved quilting, playing cards, dancing, traveling, and watching sports.
Loyola was a kind caring person who loved her family immensely. Her greatest accomplishment was raising her family as she was very proud of each and every one of them. Though she was here on earth for 98 years, no amount of time is enough for those we love. Loyola has been a staple in the Fairbank community, and you surely saw her at church or out on her front porch at some time. She loved our Lord, and we know he met her with welcoming arms and a hug and a kiss from her husband Norbert and son Craig. She will forever be greatly missed.
Survivors include three sons: Ken (Judy) Kleitsch, Tom Kleitsch and Jim (Krista) Kleitsch; four daughters: Mary Ann Kleitsch, Susan Shannon, Gail (Denny) Goedken, and Jean (Mitch) Sauerbrei; and one daughter-in-law, Jeanne Kleitsch. Loyola has 17 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother, Leonard "Bud" Burke; one sister Roberta Clemens; one brother-in-law, Dean Allen; and one sister-in-law, Betty Kleitsch.
Loyola was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband, Norbert; her beloved son, Craig; a son-in-law, Pat Shannon; a daughter-in-law, Tami Kleitsch; a granddaughter, Andrea Shannon; two brothers; four sisters; and two brothers-in-law.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Fairbank.
Online condolences can be left at
www.woodsfuneralhome.netPublished by Independence Bulletin-Journal on Jul. 9, 2025.