Perrene Klemm

Perrene Pingel Klemm, age 89, of Maple Park passed away November 7, 2015 at Oak Crest Care Center.

She was born August 24, 1926 in Arlington Heights, IL, the daughter of Paul and Ethel Pingel.

She was a very active child, loving the outdoors and sports of all kinds all through grade school. She attended elementary school in Arlington Heights and graduated in 1940. She attended Arlington Heights High School and graduated in 1944. During her high school years, Perrene was on the baseball and basketball teams. She was also very interested in babysitting and caring for children. She babysat for many families in the neighborhood. She was a member of the Campfire Girls throughout school and eventually became a leader

On September 6th, 1947, Perrene married John Julius Klemm at the Catholic Church in Franklin Park, IL. After a honeymoon to Los Angeles, CA, they returned to Maple Park and settled on the family farm where Johnnie was born

Upon graduation, she attended Comptometry Business School in Chicago, IL. After completion, she accepted a position with the Jewel Tea Company in Barrington, IL, managing the coffee department and working as a roasted coffee taster. She was on the Jewel Tea baseball and bowling team.

She was a 4-H leader for 15 years and a member of the DeKalb County Home Extension. She was a 4-H camp counselor at Camp Shaw-wa-na-see for many years. Perrene and Johnnie were also Board Members of the former Notre Dame High School for girls in DeKalb and was a PTA member for many years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Maple Park and participated in the Cenacle Guild. Perrene drove a school bus for Kaneland School District for 32 years, a job that she absolutely loved. She transported several generations of several families.
She loved being on the farm and working in the fields. She always had a large vegetable and flower garden. She loved to mow lawn and took pride in the beauty of the farm. Perrene and Johnnie had six children, who were active in sports, scouts and 4-HShe loved to play cards, especially 500, and played with several card clubs. She loved to dance and Perrene and Johnnie could be seen on Saturdays nights, out dancing with friends at the Eagles Club and Moose Club. Perrene lived on the family farm until she moved to OakCrest in 2005. She volunteered at the reception desk and resident store, played Bingo, was in the kitchen band and the lunch bunch and went on many day excursions with the activity department.

She was the loving wife of John Klemm and proud mother of Kathleen (Joe) Ludwikowski, Cynthia (Michael) Sosinski, John (Debra) Klemm, Christine (David) Carrington, Edward (Lynette) Klemm and Michael (Donna) Klemm. Perrene is a loving Grandma to Amy Ludwikowski, Ryan Ludwikowski, Erin (Paul) Choin, Chad Carrington (Susan Vrchota) Michael Sosinski (Mallory Manning) Katelyn Klemm ( Andy Moon), Alyssa Klemm, Jason Klemm and Joshua Klemm and Catina, Joseph, Justin and Jason Torres. She is a Great Grandma to Camden and Remy Choin, Shyanne Groh, Triasia Housenn, Melvin Gay Jr., Maliyha Gay and Deon Kynand; great, great grandmother to Brooklyn Price.

She is survived by her siblings Phil (Diane) Pingel, Priscilla (Lew Woelke), Pam Barry and sister-in-law Dorothy Pingel, many nieces and nephews and a family of friends.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, John Klemm, her parents Paul and Ethel Pingel, her in-laws Paul and Loretta Klemm, brothers Paul Pingel and Preston (Dorothy) Pingel, sisters Pauline Pingel and Pernet (Gerry) Goble.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit her favorite charities including St. Mary Catholic Church and Oak Crest. Checks may be made to the “Perrene Klemm Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com .

A mass to celebrate her faith will begin at 11 a.m., with a time of visitation from 10-10:45 a.m., November 12, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Maple Park, IL.

Visitation will be at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Maple Park, in the Novak Center from 3-8 p.m., with a rosary service at 3 p.m., Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

St. Mary Cemetery on County Line Rd. in Maple Park, IL.