Miriam L. Kleven

The daughter of the late Elmer and Emma Stroh, Miriam was born in her childhood home in Moulton, OH on Saturday, November 5, 1927. Miriam grew up in Moulton and attended a one room school for four years before completing her early education at Moulton Local School. She then attended Blume High School in Wapakoneta, OH. Before starting college, she worked as a clerk for her family's general store and played organ for Trinity Lutheran Church. Her collegiate experience was at Capital University, Columbus, OH where she started and stopped during those years (returned home to be the head secretary and head bookkeeper for the Detjen Grain Company as well as played organ for her church) but graduated in 1955 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a minor in Business Education. She also took undergraduate studies at Ohio State University and the University of Toledo.

While in college, Miriam was proud to be the church soloist for the Broad Street Congregational church in Columbus, OH, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity and her experiences traveling the United States with a choral group. Additionally, she was honored to be chosen as the contralto soloist for the "All American Chorus" trip to Europe in 1956. In 1960, Miriam received a Masters of Business Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. During those intervening years, Miriam taught elementary, junior high and high school in Ida, MI and Berkley, MI. After receiving her Master's degree, Miriam taught at the Detroit Business Institute (now Davenport College). When not teaching, she continued to pursue her love of music and the arts and was a member of the Ridgedale Players (then Oak Park, MI) in the mid 1960s. From a career perspective after 1966, she was a substitute teacher in a number of local school districts and a church organist for Christ Lutheran (Redford, MI), Saint Olaf Lutheran Church (Detroit, MI), St. John's Lutheran (Redford, MI), Christ the King Lutheran Church (Livonia, MI) and Celebration Lutheran (Westland, MI) retiring in her late 80s. During those years, Miriam was also a member of the Detroit Lutheran Singers. Although she became a Metro Detroiter in 1956 (lived in Westland for 45 years), she continued to have roots in her hometown of Moulton, OH. This is where she had a minority interest in Moulton Gas Company (founded by her father Elmer) and was a proud owner of a farm originally settled by her great grandfather Peter Detjen in 1871 (Washington Township).

Miriam was preceded in death by her husband of 30 years, Howard who passed in 1994. She was also preceded in death by her dearest brothers Charles "Buck" (Mary Louise) Stroh and Kermit (Mary Lu) Stroh. Also, her brother-in-law Harvey (Norma) Kleven.

She is survived by her loving son and daughter-in-law Marshall and Lisa Kleven, Livonia MI. Also, she is survived by her two grandchildren Adam (Tara) Kleven-Patel, Washington DC, and Lindsey (Dylan) Greenwell, Cape Coral, FL as well as her two great grandchildren, Rohan Kleven-Patel and Leighton Greenwell. Her brother, Henry "Hank" (LeArdyce) Stroh, Wapakoneta, OH and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Good, Lima,OH also survive her.

Miriam was fiercely independent, particular and had a zest for life. She enjoyed knowing people and the details of who they were. She loved fishing (especially in northern MI), sports, music, dramatics, dancing and was a devoted member of the Lutheran faith. Miriam telephoned late in the evening, left three-minute voicemails, gave unusual gifts, was competitive at games and burned the late night candle with the best of them. She cherished her many friends and especially her family. Miriam's grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her a spark in her later years that allowed for travel adventures which made lasting memories.

A visitation will take place at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI, on Friday, July 11 at 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A service honoring her life will be on Saturday, July 12 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 39375 Joy Rd, Westland, MI 48185 with viewing at 10:00 am followed by the worship service at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Seedlings Braille Books for Children, 14151 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI 48154.