Obituary of Marian Esther Kluesner

NEW VIENNA, IOWA "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25: 35, 36 Sister Marian (Marlys) Kluesner, FSPA Sister Marian Kluesner, FSPA, 81, died Sunday, November 2, 2014, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse. She was in the sixty-first year of her religious profession. Sister Marian was born to Raymond and Luella (Buenker) Kluesner on December 31, 1932 at the family farm house in New Vienna, Iowa. She was baptized at St. Boniface Church and given the name Marian Esther. Marian remembers a delayed fourth of July celebration in 1940 because of the birth of the twins, Betty and Bob. She and her six brothers and sisters grew up on the farm and attended St. Boniface School in New Vienna. After graduation from high school, Marian entered St. Rose Convent on September 4, 1951. Marian was received into the novitiate on August 12, 1952 and given the name, Sister Mary Marlys. She pronounced first vows on August 12, 1954. She entered the field of education and earned a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in art from Viterbo College (University). She also attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN Sister Marian taught middle grades and high school in Wisconsin and Iowa. After twenty years in the field of education, she studied occupational therapy and served as therapist at Villa St. Joseph. In 1976, she moved into the social service field and worked for Catholic Social Service and Catholic Charities in Oklahoma and in Texas. She was Director of Catholic Charities, then Director of Emergency Assistance for El Paso Diocese for twenty-five years. After almost forty years of serving the poor, Sister Marian retired to St. Rose Convent in 2012. A little over a week ago, Sister Marian's health deteriorated quickly and she moved to Villa St. Joseph. Family, friends and community remember Sister Marian as a person with a heart for the poor. Her quiet compassion touched thousands over the years. She welcomed everyone and helped in any way she could. She was often teased that her compassion even extended to stray cats, a true follower of St. Clare of Assisi. Sister Marian was a great story teller and found humor in the smallest things. She loved to sing and was delighted to be part of the St. Rose Schola. Sister Marian is survived by her Franciscan community; three sisters, Helen Reardon, Dyersville, Iowa, Jean Kluesner, New Vienna, and Elizabeth (Lenny) Leick, Epworth, Iowa; and one brother, Robert Kluesner, Little Canada, Minnesota, a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Kluesner of Dyersville, IA, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Francis and Ralph. Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, November 4, at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. that evening in Mary of the Angels Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Family and friends may continue to call at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa on Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. where a final Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held in St. Boniface Cemetery where she will be buried along with her family. Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements in La Crosse and Kramer Funeral Home with those in New Vienna. Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI, 54601- 4782.