Dolores Ann Kliethermes

Born November 11, 1931, in Jefferson City, Missouri to John J. and Pauline (Kaiser) Hohm, Dolores grew up on the family farm with her siblings, John A., Norbert, Linus, and Genevieve (Knaebel) Hohm. She graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1949 and worked for the Missouri State Veterinarian. Dolores married Hubert J. Kliethermes and they relocated to Kansas City and began their family. Dolores recently reflected that she couldn’t have picked a more respectful and supportive partner. She and Hubie lovingly collaborated in raising six children while also pursuing work and community interests. When their children grew to school age, Dolores worked as an administrative assistant at St. Bernadette’s School. She was an active member of St. Bernadette’s parish for many years and belonged to the St. Joseph Guild. Following in her parents’ footsteps, she and Hubert were instrumental in establishing and leading the Four-Leaf Clover 4-H Club at St. Bernadette’s (a city 4-H Club). Although active and engaged in her career, she managed to meld family and work before the era that work balance was even recognized. Dolores had a finely honed sense of fairness and justice (perhaps due in part to her experience raising six children). Highlights of her career include executive support to Kansas City, Missouri municipal judges, as well as assisting in the creation of the first word processing center for the American Nurses Association. Dolores then became a legal assistant and developed a love of legal detail. She continued to be employed by attorney Karen Howard her longtime friend and associate. Dolores’s retirement occurred well into her 80’s. Upon retirement, Dolores took on an ancestry project, capturing her family memories and using her research, writing, and organizational skills to tell the story of her German ancestry and experiences of growing up on the farm. Dolores painstakingly organized photos and letters (including German letter translations). She then captured memories to tell the story entitled “What we do together matters”. As she acquired time and space in her life, she also developed an avid interest in politics and followed world and local events closely.

Dolores was strong and intelligent and sought out challenges with unflappable optimism. She was tenacious, generous, supportive, hardworking, and loyal. She was able to coordinate, manage and keep up with many tasks simultaneously and continued to do so until the illness which preceded her death. Dolores embraced acceptance and adopted a welcoming and gracious attitude to those who came into her life and the lives of her family. Differences were celebrated and provided an avenue for growth. She found joy and created joy orchestrating family events and holiday gatherings throughout the years. Providing abundant and tasty food was central to her gatherings. When joy was the result, “Hot Ziggity” was her refrain. The maintenance of the family house was also central to her being and she felt that all who needed a spot to land for a time were always welcome. Help and assistance were always forthcoming. She pulled from a seemingly endless pool of strength and resolve and never gave up on those she loved and cared about no matter the difficulty. She was incredibly strong and known to say, “God never gives you what you cannot handle”. She maintained strong and beautiful relationships with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and tended to those connections lovingly. One of her last requests to her family was to “keep the circle of love alive”.

Dolores will be deeply missed, and we appreciate and are thankful for our time together. The memories and inspiration that she leaves with us will continue to enrich our lives. Dolores was preceded in death by her father and mother, John and Pauline (Kaiser) Hohm; brothers, John, Norbert and Linus; her son-in-law Gary Summers, and her husband and partner Hubert J. Kliethermes. She is survived by her sister Genevieve (Hohm) Knaebel of Kansas City, Mo. and six children: Debora Summers of Kansas City, Missouri, Pamela Kliethermes of Kansas City, Missouri, Terri Murray (Ned) of Boca Raton, Florida, Timothy Kliethermes (Susan) of Lee Summit, Missouri, Christy Kliethermes of Kansas City, Missouri, and Daniel Kliethermes (Belinda) of Blue Springs, Missouri. She is survived by eleven beloved grandchildren: Eric Kliethermes (Nevena) of Chicago, Illinois, Phillip Eagle (Lisa) of Parkville, Missouri, Vanessa Murray of Stevenson Maryland, Emily Summers (Ross Noecker) of Chicago, Illinois, Jessica Snowden (Eric) of Detroit, Michigan, Evan Summers (Simone Marton) of Brooklyn, New York, Lindsey Denney (Ian) of Plattsburg, Missouri, Miranda Murray of Baltimore, Marylnd, Dylan Kliethermes of Blue Springs, Missouri, Katie Kliethermes (Ryan Lewis) of Lee Summit, Missouri, Dan Kliethermes (Madeline) of Overland Park, Kansas, Sam Kliethermes of Blue Springs, Missouri. In addition, she is survived by eleven beloved great grandchildren: Parker Lewis, Yana Kliethermes, Fletcher Denney, Mila Kliethermes, Lily Eagle, Beau Kliethermes, Whitney Noecker, Mills (Goldie) Kliethermes, Eleanor Denney, Elliot Finn Murray and Sloane Snowden. Many nieces, nephews and great nieces & nephews will also miss Dolores in their lives.

Visitation will be at 9am on Sat., March 25, 2023, at St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church, followed by a funeral mass at 10am. Burial is at St. Mary’s Cemetery (Woodlawn) and funeral luncheon is at Newcomers Noland Road Chapel (across from cemetery). Those wishing to send tributes or condolences to the family may do so at dignitymemorial.com McGilley and Sheil funeral home. Donations are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans, The Whole Person, or Operation Breakthrough.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McGilleySheil.com for the Kliethermes family.