Mary L. Klauer

Mary L. Klauer, 91, of Davenport, died Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf surrounded by her family.

Visitation for Mary will be Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home with the rosary prayed at 6:45 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 27, 2024 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Davenport. Keeping with her wishes, cremation rites will take place following Mass and burial will take place at a later date at Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to St. Alphonsus.

Mary Louise Leihsing was born on October 22 or it could have been October 23, 1932 depending on what story you believe! She was born in Phillipsburg, Missouri to Nikolas and Sarah “Ellen Louise” (Wilson) Leihsing. Following graduating high school, she moved to Illinois to work and lived with her sister, Agnes. 

Mary was united in marriage to Paul Donald Klauer on June 19, 1954 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bettendorf. Paul died unexpectedly on September 8, 2000 following 46 years of marriage.

Mary worked in restaurants. She also was a baker and worked in the sack lunch room at Davenport West High School. She retired in 1984 when her husband retired because he claimed he’d go fishing or spend his days at the tavern if she didn’t. 

Mary was an active member of St. Alphonsus where she sang in the choir, was vice president of the Altar and Rosary Society and was the Queen of the Friday Night Fish Fry.

Mary was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She had a great collection of books and encyclopedias that she continued to reference. She loved to garden and knew every flower, tree, and weed around as well as a great knowledge of birds, airplanes, ships, and maps. She encouraged her children to travel the world and eat the food! She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Those left to honor her memory are her children: David (Rhonda) Klauer, Henryville, Indiana, Donnie Klauer, Davenport, Dr. Nancy Knight, California, Maryland, Laura (Ron) Patton, Davenport, and Rita (Mark) Wacker, Walcott; thirteen grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren with one on the way, and two great-great grandchildren and plethora of nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Eric Knight, a great-granddaughter, Autumn McCleary, her parents, and siblings: Francis Leihsing, Agnes Thompson, Thomas Leihsing, Lawrence Leihsing, Lloyd Leihsing, Louis Leihsing, Ernest Leihsing, and Michael Leihsing. May they rest in peace.