Ruth Kleckner passed away peacefully with her family on 16 October, 2023 after a short illness. Ruth was born at home on a farm in Lafayette County, Wisconsin on 15 January, 1936. She was the daughter of Lester Broge and Margaret Tieman Broge. She graduated from South Wayne High School in 1954. Ruth married Richard Kleckner at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lena on June 15, 1957 and they were married for 55 years. They raised 5 children in Lena before moving to Freeport in 2003.

Ruth worked at Kolb Lena Cheese and at Le-Win High School before settling into a long career at Economy Fire & Casualty in Freeport, retiring from there in 1998. Ruth possessed a cheerful disposition and sharp sense of humor. She was a favorite of her many nieces and nephews. She was a faithful fan of any team that involved her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, keeping up with news and was especially fond of cardinals.  

Surviving are her five children, Kevin (Dina) Kleckner of Freeport, Randy Kleckner of Lena, Wanda (Ed) Gast of Lena, Julie (Rick) Rinderman of Pearl City and Jim (Karen) Kleckner of Freeport. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Surviving also are sisters-in-law Vivian Otte of Lena and Nancy Broge of Cedarville.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, and siblings Glenn Broge, Donald Broge and Glenda Yeager and granddaughter Kirsten Kleckner.

The funeral service will be on Friday October 20, 2023 at 11 AM, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lena, IL.  A visitation will be held at 9 AM prior to the service.  Burial will be following the ceremony at Lena Burial Park with a reception at St. John’s.