Leonard Joseph Kluesner, 90, passed away peacefully at home Friday, June 7, 2024 — the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Leonard Kluesner

He was born July 10, 1933, to Henry and Elizabeth Reischman Kluesner in Saint Joseph, Tennessee, and his family moved to New Hamburg in 1940.

He was a veteran of the Korean War.

Leonard married the love of his life, Edna Mae Cotner, daughter of Glen and Rose Cotner, on Sept. 29, 1956, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson. She survives of the home.

He was a member of the St. Joseph Sodality at St. Lawrence Parish in New Hamburg and Knights of Columbus Council No. 4311 in Oran.

Leonard was a carpenter by trade, building homes and working on Catholic churches throughout Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. While making a living for his family in construction, his true love was creating exquisite works of art, including 33 grandfather clocks, gifting his last one at the age of 90. Leonard’s prized creations include inlaid tables, cabinetry built from trees harvested from the family farm, benches, crosses and more. Most notably and more publicly admired are the altar, chairs, ambo and podium in St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

While construction was how he made his living and finish work his love, his true passion was for his wife and children. Leonard couldn’t have been prouder of the life he built with Edna, Gary, Dolores, David, Sharon, Pam and Johnny — until the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, of course. Playing cards, checkers, gardening, tending chickens and telling colorful stories filled his days. A true prankster, a good snipe hunt never hurt anybody.

Leonard built a strong reputation on hard work and acts of love. May we all keep his goodness and kindness alive.

Loving survivors include his wife of 67 years, Edna Kluesner of New Hamburg; three sons, Gary (Sue) Kluesner, David (Dolly) Kluesner and John (Krista) Kluesner; three daughters, Dolores (Ron) Derrow, Sharon (Kenny) Blue and Pam (Floyd) Blue; grandchildren, Gary Wayne (Deidre) Kluesner, Tracy (Brent) Peters, Bryan (Laura) Eftink, Becky (Pat) Barry, Samantha (Matt) Peters, Jerome Kluesner, Kristy (Tim) Landewee, Kelsey (Ethan) Lee, Heather (Jason) Newcomb, Bethany (Ian) Soper, Katie Blue (Richard Cato), Matthew Blue and Evan Keesee; 22 great-grandchildren, with one on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by a brother, Alfred Kluesner; sisters, Henrietta Dirnberger, Angela (Charlie) Klueppel and Semina Seyer; and three sisters-in-law.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Norbert Kluesner; a sister, Marie Kluesner; five brothers-in-law; and two sisters-in-law.

The family extends sincere appreciation to the nurses at Crown Hospice for their kind and compassionate care and all the friends and family who prayed for Leonard, provided food or offered a kind word in time of grief.

Parish prayers will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at St. Lawrence Parish Center in New Hamburg, with visitation from 4 to 8 p.m.

The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, with a brief eulogy at 9:45 a.m. The Rev. Daniel Belken will officiate. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Lawrence Catholic Parish.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.