Earlene M. Kleopfer

Earlene Muriel Kleopfer 94, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2017 in Paola, Kansas. Earlene was born on April 9, 1923 in Lexington, Scott County, Indiana to Earl and Aletha Muriel (Hall) Milles. She married James Dale Kleopfer on January 4, 1942 and they had 3 sons, Jim, Robert, and Gary. Her husband of 75 years died on March 3, 2017. After Dale returned from serving in World War II, the couple operated a farm just outside of Lexington, Indiana and also built and operated the Lexington Feed and Farm Supply. After their family was raised they moved to Florida where Earlene worked at a bank and Dale worked as a fisherman in St. Petersburg. They next retired to Slidell, Louisiana before moving to Lawrence, Kansas in 2001 to be near their son, Robert. In 2015 they sold their home in Lawrence and moved to Paola, Kansas. Earlene and Dale both loved children and animals. They always had pets around and neighborhood children seemed to flock to their doorstep. In Lawrence she was affectionately known as "Grandma Earlene". In the summer time, children would come to their home for snow cones and other sweet delights. They leave behind their beloved dog, Mack who they promised to watch briefly when it was a tiny pup six years ago. Surviving are her sons, Jim of Lexington, Robert and wife Cindy of Paola, and Gary and wife Anita of Tucson, Arizona; sister, Flora Jean of Hanover, Indiana; grandchildren, Robin Grant of Fulton, Maryland, Jennifer Wiley of Parkville, Missouri, and Angie Rupp of Tucson, Arizona; great grandchildren, Nick, Regan, Sydney, and Ty Grant, Jacob and Grace Anne Wiley, and Emma Rupp. Earlene was preceded in death by her parents. A Celebration-of-Life event for Earlene and Dale will be held in Lexington on July 22.