Clara Klingensmith

Friday, January 25, 2008 2:05 AM MST

CASPER -- Funeral services for Clara Emily Klingensmith, 84, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Msgr. James O'Neill officiating. Burial will be in Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery.

Viewing is Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., at Newcomer Family Funeral Home.

She died Jan. 20, 2008, at Havasu Regional Medical Center, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

She was born March 24, 1923, in Jeannette, Pa., the daughter of Boniface H Tewes and Mary Emily Wood.

She attended Catholic grade school and public high school in Jeannette, Pa., and graduated from a practical nursing school in Greensburg, Pa.

She married A.W. Klingensmith on Feb. 8, 1947.

She worked for the Westmoreland County Hospital as a licensed practical nurse from 1964 to 1973.

In March of 1973, she moved with her family to Casper, where she began working as an LPN for Natrona County Memorial Hospital (Wyoming Medical Center). She continued to work at the hospital until her retirement in 1998.

Her life was spent giving care to others. In her later years, she was known for the quilts she hand-made and gave to friends and relatives.

Survivors include three sons, Thomas G Klingensmith, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Robert W. Klingensmith of Natrona County and James A Klingensmith and his wife of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; a daughter, Mary Jane Keizer of Maui, Hawaii; two sisters, Bonita M Serlo of Tamarac, Fla., and Ruth A Bortz of New Alexandria, Pa.; eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, Dorothy M Craig and Pauline C Byers; three brothers, Herman B. Tewes, Gerald F. Tewes and John H. Tewes.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Newcomer Family Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.