Eleanor Kleinow

Date of Birth

Sep 15,1914

Date of Death

Jan 20,2004

ELEANOR KLEINOW, age 89, of rural St. Charles, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at Delnor Community Hospital, Geneva, after a battle with declining health. BORNShe was born September 15, 1914 in Melrose Park, IL, the daugher of Henry F. & Emilie (Trenkler) Greinke.CHILDHOODEleanor grew up in Melrose Park where she was baptized and later confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, on April 1, 1928. It was a commitment to faith that would both last and deepen throughout her life-time. Following graduation from Proviso High School, she continued to live in Melrose Park where she was united in marriage to Paul F. Kleinow on November 13, 1937. They made their home in Franklin Park for the next twenty-two years before gradually moving west to Addison, IL. EMPLOYMENTEleanor worked as a secretary at Wilson Sporting Goods, River Grove, IL for many years until she and Paul retired and moved to Elkhorn, Wisconsin. They built a wonderful home near Paul’s sister and enjoyed many happy times there.In 1984, Paul passed away but Eleanor continued to live at their Elkhorn home until 1991 when she returned to Illinois and settled near her daughter, Sandra in Wheaton, IL. Six years later, they came to the Elburn area, west of St. Charles, and settled together in a home built perfectly for all of them. LIFE NOTESEleanor was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a loving heart, hard working hands and a deep desire to always remain part of the active lives of her family. She expressed her care for them in many ways but especially with "lovin’ from the oven". Her apple coffee cake was famous and the crust that cradled every pie was incomparable. In more recent years, she and her daughter had begun a delightful tradition of having "tea" with the third generation, great granddaughter, Amanda. Eleanor treasured those times and she herself will be remembered "at tea" as the tradition continues through the years. In Eleanor’s wing of the family home, there was also a "sitting room" where her grandson, Steven, would come to visit. Sweet and caring, but all "boy", Steven was not a tea partner, but a young "gentleman caller" who could always tell if grandma had recently been baking SURVIVORSShe is survived by her daughter:Sandra (David) Helfers of Elburn,one grandson, Steven (Suzanne) Helfers, and their children Steven D and Amanda S. Helfers, also of Elburn;one granddaughter, Deborah (Gary) Neveau of Lake in the Hills, IL;two sisters: Ruth Kamin of Monterey, IN andMarion (Paul) Martin of Bella Vista, AR;many nieces and nephews and a long legacy of loving memories. PRECEDEDShe is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Paul F. Kleinow and two brothers, Henry A. and Harold Greinke. MEMORIALSMemorials in Eleanor’s name may be made to either the Lord of Life Church Building Fund in care of P.O. Box 70, LaFox, IL 60147 or to "Worship for Shut-Ins", 3425 Crescent Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.

SERVICESFriends may call at visitation, Friday morning from 10-11am at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. A service to celebrate the life and faith of Eleanor Kleinow will be held at 11am. The Rev. Dr. Barry Kolb, pastor of the Lord of Life, Lutheran Church, LaFox, IL, will officiate

Interment will follow at Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL.

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