Claudia M Kieffer

December 10, 1935 ~ November 17, 2025 (age 89)

Claudia Marie (Korff) Kieffer was called to be with her Heavenly Father on November 17, 2025.

Claudia was born on December 10, 1935 to Claude and Marie (Kolinger) Korff in Chicago, IL. She lived with her father Claude Korff, mother Marie (Kolinger) Korff, younger sister Judy (Korff) Rickard and Donald Korff in the same first-floor apartment on the south side of Chicago until her freshman year of high school. Her parents then purchased Gross Mutter and Grandpa Korff’s “two-flat” home across the street, where their family lived upstairs and Marie’s sister Mildred, her husband Herman, and their son Norm (Claudia’s cousin) lived downstairs.

Claudia was baptized at St. Stephen’s Church, where she also attended Sunday School every week, and afterwards shared the lesson with Gross Mutter. Her family only attended church on holidays until she was confirmed, then they all began regular weekly church attendance, and her mother and Aunt Mildred were confirmed a year later.

Claudia attended Perkins Bass Elementary School from kindergarten through eighth grade, walking the half-mile distance every day come rain or shine. She then took the city bus to Parker High School, where she graduated at age 16. Although she had hoped to move away from home and attend college at the University of Illinois, her parents encouraged her to attend Chicago Teachers’ College, located on the same campus as her high school. She also worked at William A. Lewis Women’s Clothing Store as a Check Writer, drafting invoices after merchandise sales.

In 1950, her parents purchased a 3-bedroom Georgian-style home in Chicago. While living in this house and now attending nearby Ashburn Lutheran Church, she met and became friends with Jan Behlke (Herb’s stepsister). Jan would write letters to brother Herb, who was living in France while serving in the Air Force, advising that she had a gal picked out for him when he returned home.

In 1956, Herb returned to the United States and lived in Chicago, IL, where he met Claudia Marie (Korff). They were married on October 18, 1958, and started their life together in a Chicago apartment on 62nd and Spalding Avenue. During this time Claudia supported both of them, employed as a High School Home Economics teacher while Herb attended the American Academy of Art. In 1961, they purchased a home and moved to Hazel Crest, IL, where they had four children and attended Grace Lutheran Church.

In 1970, the family moved to Arlington Heights, IL, where Herb started Kieffer Graphics in their home basement and Claudia managed the family activities. They joined St. Peter Lutheran Church and School, where her children attended grade school, and regular Church and Sunday School attendance was not an option. The entire family was actively involved with St. Peter activities and frequently hosted church visitors at their house. After twenty years of full-time motherhood, Claudia restarted her teaching career as a substitute teacher at St. Peter Lutheran School, and then secured a full-time Kindergarten Teacher position in the Wheeling, IL School District. Later in life she also achieved a Master's Degree in Teaching.

In 1994, Claudia and Herb retired to their Grindstone Lake home in Hayward, WI, where they were founding and active members of Grace Lutheran Church. Claudia was also a regular substitute teacher for the Hayward School District. In 2017, they moved from their lake home to a townhouse in downtown Hayward, followed by Herb’s transition to Aspen Acres Assisted Living in 2019. In September 2020, Claudia and Herb moved to Concordia Village in Springfield, IL, where they both received outstanding care throughout their remaining days on earth.

Claudia is survived by her sister Judy (Korff) Rickard, children Paul (Carol), John (Andrea), David (Mary) Kieffer and Claudia (Rob) Kirby, grandchildren Marc (Ann) Mallory, Daniel (Nuavana), Nathan (Maria), Matthew (Hilary), Olivia, Caroline and Joseph Kieffer, Ryan (Kim), Joshua and Aleah Kirby, great-grandchildren Noah and Jameson Mallory, Lily and Wyatt Kieffer and Luke Kirby.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Herb Kieffer, brother Don Korff and granddaughter Melissa Kieffer.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held for local friends and family members on Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 2 PM in the Concordia Village Chapel located at 4101 West Iles Avenue, Springfield, IL 62711. Light refreshments will be served in the adjacent Concordia Room from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Please consider directing memorials to the Concordia Village Benevolent Fund.

A Memorial Service for both Claudia and Herb Kieffer will be held in Hayward, WI and scheduled for some time in Summer 2026.