Frank & Bright Funeral Home

Kathryn Fleener

Oct 31st, 1922 - Dec 29th, 2018

     Charlotte Kathryn Fleener, age 96, of Louisville, Illinois, passed away Saturday morning, December 29, 2018, at Flora Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.

     Kathryn was born October 31, 1922, in Clay County, the daughter of Walter and Leitha (Van Dyke) Specht.  She was united in marriage to James “Jim” E. Fleener on November 23, 1946, in Flora, and they shared 64 wedding anniversaries together.  Jim passed away December 20, 2010.

     Kathryn attended Eastern Illinois University, and was called to teach at many of the old one-room schoolhouses across the countryside of Clay county.  As those began to disappear, she often worked as a substitute teacher in the area school districts.  She was later employed in the Clay County Treasurer’s Office at the courthouse, and as a bookkeeper at Napa in Louisville.  She was a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora where she was involved in the St. Anne's Altar Society.  She had also been a member of the Louisville American Legion Auxiliary.  Kathryn enjoyed ceramic making, was an avid reader, and often kept in touch with friends and family over the phone.

     She is survived by 3 children: James (Diana) Fleener of Louisville, Stephen (Sherry) Fleener of Louisville, and Janet (Neal) Fehrenbacher of Flora; 9 grandchildren: LaDonna (Marty) Poehler, Christina (Craig) Clifton, Brian (April) Fleener, Justin (Susan) Fleener, Jerod (Kim) Fleener—all of Louisville, Chris (Amy) Fleener of Effingham, Stephanie (Matt) Shoaff of Shelbyville, Aaron (Holly) Cummins of Flora, and Anthony Cummins of Louisville; 2 step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren plus Ellie, an Italian exchange student who became like part of the family; and 5 step-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a sister: Eugenia Roley; and a brother: Everett Specht.

     A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 2, 2019, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home.  Interment will follow in Orchard Hill Cemetery, Louisville.  Visitation is 9 until 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.  Memorial donations in lieu of flowers or gifts are suggested to Clay County Hospital Auxiliary or to the St. Anne’s Altar Society.