obit:

MRS. K. KLEPFER DIED ON TUESDAY

Respected LaSalle Lady Succumbs in St. Mary's Hospital

DROPSY OF HEART CAUSE

Had Been Ill Since Last Winter-Had Boarding House Here-Funeral Thursday-Burial at Tonica

Mrs. Kate Klepfer, for eighteen years a resident of LaSalle, and who conducted a boarding house on Fourth street practically all of this time, passed away at 5:05 o'clock last evening in St. Mary's hospital, where she had been a patient for three weeks suffering from a complication of diaeases. The deceased had been alling over six months. Dropsy of the heart was the direct cause of her death.
In the spring of 1916 Mrs. Klepfer disposed of her boarding house business in this city and went to Peoria to make her residence. She spent the summer and fall there, then taken ill, she came back to LaSalle December 1st and took up residence with her daughter, Mrs. J. R. Wilson, at 217 Wright street. The Sunday following New Year's day her condition became so bad that she was forced to take to her bed. She continued to grow worse during the 19 weeks she lived with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, until it was deemed best to have her removed to the local hospital, where she was given the best of care until the end came last evening.
Born In Indiana
Mrs. Klepfer, maiden name Kate Van Laningham; she was born on Christman Day, December 25, 1855 at Oklandon, Indiana. As a young woman she married Alexander Klepfer and the couple came to Illinois to live, settling first at Tonica, where they resided for ten years, during which period they conducted a hotel. They then came to LaSalle and Mrs. Klepfer opened the boarding house at 635 Fourth street which she conducted until last year. Her husband died eight years ago from the effects of a fall he sustained at the house. Two daughters also preceded Mrs. Klepfer to the grave, these being Mrs. Jeff (Ethel) Johnson, who died 11 years ago, and Mrs. Dick (Edna) Johnson, who passed away in 1910. Only one child remains, Mrs. J. R. (Cora) Wilson of this city. There are also four sisters and four brothers left surviving, Mrs. C. C. Graves of LaSalle, Mrs. Maud Rowe of Tonica, Mrs. Margaret McDaniels of Peoria, Mrs. Etta Esch of Independence, Iowa, Albert, Leslie, Benton and Harvey Van Laningham, all of Tonica. Mrs. Klepfer was a hard-working, earnest woman of estimable character and affectionate disposition. Following the death of her daughter Ethel, she reared Lloyd Johnson, one of her grandsons who now makes his home with the Wilsons in LaSalle. The latter's son Dewey Wilson and Irwin Johnson of Seneca are the other grandsons.
Funeral Tomorrow
The funeral services will be held at the J. R. Wilson residence on Wright street at 2:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon; Rev. R. L. Griffin of the local M. E. Church will conduct the service at the house, following which an auto procession will follow to Tonica, where interment will be made in the family lot at Brookside cemetery.