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Name: Graham L. Kleespie
Spouse: Rosalie K. Farber Kleespie
Address
DECEASED 2009,
Phone Number
Email Address
Personal Website

Class of

1954 Attended from K through 12

Graduated Here?

Yes   

If graduated elsewhere, graduated from:

College Attended:

     
Birthdate: September 17, 1935   
Date of Death: December 20, 2009  
       

Current Occupation:

 

Notes:

Graham Leslie Kleespie, 74, of Crooked Lake, died Sunday afternoon, December 20, 2009 at his winter home in Bradenton, Florida.

He was born September 17, 1935 at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, a son of Reverend Graham L. and Cornelia (Schlundt) Kleespie. He lived in Whitestown, IN. until the age of 10 when his family moved to Columbia City. Graham graduated from Columbia City High School with the Class of 1954 and attended Whittenberg University.

He served 3 years in the US Army with ASA , Intelligence and was stationed in Kyoto, Japan for 2 years.

He worked in management for Eastern Express Trucking Company and was Terminal manager for 5 years in Peoria , IL. He retired from TRM Priority in 2005.

In 2005 he married Rosalie Kay (Farber) Shoda and they lived at Crooked Lake in the summer and Bradenton, Florida in the winter.

Graham attended Oak Grove United Methodist Church and was a member of Columbia City Lodge #189 F. & A. M., Scottish Rite, The Elks, American Legion Post #98 and the Eagles Lodge #1906.

He is survived by his wife, Rosalie Kay; 4 Children, Donald Kleespie of Tippecanoe, Kathryn Bennett of Columbia City, Julie (Dan) Hanauer of Columbia City and Jennifer (Jay) Trier of Fort Wayne; 5 Step Children, Rhonda (Jay) Rau, Ryan (Beverly) Shoda and Rebecca (David) Knight, all of Oregon, LuAnn (John O'Meara) Shoda and Ronelle Shoda of Columbia City; 9 Grandchildren; 9 Step Grandchildren; 9 Great Grandchildren; 12 Step Great Grandchildren; a special friend and brother, Keith Kleespie of Columbia City; and Best Friend, Don Wineland of Columbia City.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Joan (Peterson) Kleespie, on September 11, 2004.

A Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Grace Lutheran Church, Columbia City. The family will receive friends after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Memorials may be given to the Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Grace Lutheran Food Pantry or Grace Lutheran Scholarship Fund.

Local arrangements are being completed by Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Note: Graham was on the Board of Directors of the CCHS Alumni Association and was CCHSAA Class Coordinator for Class of 1954.

 
Last Updated: 07-30-2017 Alumni ID: 12886
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