Mary Lou was born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL, to John Milton Shoemaker and Mary Ellen Wolfe. She attended nursing school where she met Dr. Walter Kleinsteuber, Jr. They were married in 1949 and settled in Louisville where they raised four children. Mary Lou enjoyed raising and showing horses and Dobermans, she loved growing flowers in her greenhouse, and playing cards; she was a regal, elegant and witty woman who never met a stranger and didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, she was also a very giving person, she often sent cards and long letters that she handwrote in calligraphy, and she made the best Beef Stroganoff.
She eventually moved back to Florida and married Lewis Heisler. They spent their retirement years combing the beaches with a metal detector looking for lost treasurers, raising exotic birds, and she also worked as a florist making beautiful floral arrangements. After Lew’s passing, she moved back to Kentucky to be closer to her family.
Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents; her eldest daughter and son-in-law, Magdalene “Maggie” Russo (Phil); and her daughter-in-law, Bunny Kleinsteuber.
Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Dr. Ken Kleinsteuber, Kathy Fox (Stephan Turner), and John Phillip Kleinsteuber (Kim); 7 grandchildren, Meghan, Jon-Michael, Dominique, Dino, Bryce, Kaylor (Alex), and Sean (Ashley); 6 great-grandchildren, Emma, Mia, Gabby, Graham, Harper, and Beckett; and many friends.
Per Mary Lou’s wishes, cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 27th at 4pm with visitation from 2-4pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity benefiting the welfare of animals.
