Lois Ann Kleist

Obituary - Lois Ann Kleist, 74, departed this life, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at her home in Herington.  She was born January 5, 1945, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Joseph Raymond and Barbara Dorothy (Laslo) Goscenski.  She grew up in an era where the family was her friends and  would be throughout her marriage, raising children, and being there for the grandchildren. She was always a friend and giving her things away.  She did not follow sports much but would always be a devoted fan to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

She graduated from the Chartier Valley High School with the class of 1962.  She joined the Army on January 22, 1964, and went to basic training in North Carolina.  When she completed basic training she returned with a Bostonian accent.  Most of her friends at training were from Boston. She was assigned to the medical corp.  Due to injuries from a medical sterilizer blowing up, she received a medical discharge in May 1965. 

She was a member of St. John Catholic Church, V.F.W. Auxiliary, both of Herington, and served two different terms for the Auxiliary as District President; she was a member of the MOC (Military Order of Cooties, a branch of the VFW hospital support group); F.O. E. of Salina; she taught the AARP safe driver program to senior citizens; collected ceramic baby figurines; read mysteries, watched current and classic mysteries, and game shows. Sparkles and glitz would brighten her day.

She met Peter D. Kleist on a blind date and ten days later, May 8, 1964, they were married at Seguin, Texas.  They were the parents of Darlene, David, Dorothy Jo, and Gracine.  He preceded her in death on April 23, 2006. Thirteen years later, same month and same day, she would be buried with him.  She is also preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Goscenski, and her parents. 

She is survived by a son, David L. Kleist (wife-Ashley) of Solomon; three daughters, Darlene Kleist of Herington, Dorothy Jo Kleist (husband-Derrick Gough) of Nixa, Missouri, Gracine Swinford of Palace Hills, Illinois; two sisters, Mary Vorhis of California, and Virginia Kutzer of Pennsylvania; ten grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.

Family will receive friends 6:30-8:00pm, Monday, April 22, 2019, at the Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel. Funeral services will be 10:00am, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the funeral home.  Interment will follow at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery, with military honors, Father Peter O’Donnell, officiating.

Memorials to St. John Catholic Church or the VFW Auxiliary both of Herington; and they may be sent to the Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.