Audrey Catherine (Kliethermes) Dietzel

Audrey Catherine (Kliethermes) Dietzel, age 76 years, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Friday, June 2, 2017, from pancreatic cancer, at home surrounded by her family. She was diagnosed with cancer on February 8, 2016, one day after her 75th birthday, with optimism and a good attitude. Audrey was the eldest child born on February 7, 1941 in Jefferson City, Missouri, a daughter of Raymond Joseph and Mathilda Frances (Holzer) Kliethermes. A lifelong resident of Jefferson City, Audrey attended Helias High School. She was married on February 11, 1961 in Jefferson City, Mo. to Larry Dean Jenkins, who preceded her in death on July 9, 1964. To this union two children were born: Jerry Dean Jenkins and Joyce Jane Jenkins. On November 13, 1976, she was married to Ralph Dietzel, who preceded her in death on March 6, 2013. Her step-children were Tracy Dietzel, Terina Holcombe, Terri Morris and Dennis Dietzel. In the 1960s after her husbands death, Audrey raised her two and three year old children alone while working as an Assembler in the Q-Tip Department at Chesebrough Ponds for 30 years retiring in 1999. Following her retirement she worked in the Dietary Services Department at Capital Region Medical Center for close to 10 years. Audrey was a long time encourager and inspirational member of the Liberty Road Baptist Church and loved every minute helping with anything that needed to be done. She had a wonderful group of church members who surrounded her with love during her time in the church and during her illness. Audrey was the sweetest person in all of Jefferson City - always thinking about others. She was brilliant, with a sharp mind. Raised on a farm in Osage County, life was tough and the endless hardship of trying to make a living on a farm with only the help of the family made Audrey appreciate what she had in life years later. She loved working puzzles, sending cards, was an avid reader, writer and enjoyed keeping her diary. She is survived by her children and step-children: Jerry Dean (Jackie) Jenkins of Jefferson City, Mo., Joyce Jane Jenkins of Taos, Mo., Tracy Dietzel of Minneapolis, Minn., Terina (Ron) Holcombe of Jefferson City, Mo., Terri Morris of North Carolina and Dennis (Anna) Dietzel of Loose Creek, Mo.; two brothers, David Kliethermes of Jefferson City, Mo. and Dan (Rita) Kliethermes of New Bloomfield, Mo.; five sisters, Pauline (Sonny) Gentges, Grace (Jim) Harvey, Teresa (Jerry) Ferguson, Erma Moskalski and Carol (Mike) Sisson, all of Jefferson City, Mo.; five grandchildren, Josh (Ashleigh) Jenkins (US Navy) of Whidbey Island, Wash., Janet (Ashton) Glaser of Ozark, Mo., Jesse Crow of Texas, Jessica Schmidt of Jefferson City, Mo., Chris Higgins of Mountain View, Mo.; one aunt, Evelyn Luebbering of Lohman, Mo.; and a host of nieces, nephews and many friends. Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; both of her husbands, Larry Jenkins and Ralph Dietzel; a baby sister, Mary Ann Kliethermes; one step-son, Darryl Dietzel; and a step grandson, Jamie Higgins. A visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in the Freeman Chapel with the Reverend Kim Smith officiating. Private burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery in Jefferson City, Mo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Goldschmidt Cancer Center, Liberty Road Baptist Church or Hospice Compassus. Audrey wished to thank the Dietzel Family, Jenkins Family, Kliethermes Family, the Buschjost Family, along with all her friends and Liberty Road Baptist Church family for being there with her during this journey through her illness. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com