Evelyn “Kay” Rubey Klennert, of
Phoenix, AZ, passed away on August 21st, 2019 at the age of 86. Kay
was born to Lawrence Zeitz and Mildred Meals in Chicago, IL. Since her mother died
when she was 6 months old, she came under the care of her father’s second wife,
Mildred Zeitz. While living in Chicago, Kay earned her Registered Nurse degree
at Ravenswood Hospital.
During her first marriage to Raymond Rubey of 30 years, Kay moved
to Inglewood, California and then Cypress where she worked for almost twenty
years as a nurse at Mobil Oil refinery in Long Beach, California. She also
became the President of the Southern
California’s Nurses Association. Following her time at Mobil Oil, she
consulted as a rehabilitation nurse until she retired. After Raymond’s passing,
Kay met, married, and spent ten years with Ronald Klennert as they moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado and then Salome,
and Apache Junction, Arizona, where she developed strong bonds with two
of his sons, John and Jim.
Throughout her life, Kay avidly fished and often golfed. She
cooked a mean pot of beans and Italian beef, contributed irreverent humor, and
socialized with zeal. Through her stalwart and intrepid presence, Kay
embodied her love for life. Many friends and family will miss her.
Kay was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Zeitz, and
survived two husbands, Raymond Rubey and Ronald Klennert. She is
survived by her brother, Allen P. Zeitz, cousins, Kathie Ernspiger, Sue
Ernspiger, Kris Ernspiger, Kara Delashmit, Kim Mattingly, and Nancy Bradley, and
her nieces and nephews, Matthew Zeitz, Adam Zeitz, Dave Zeitz, Stephanie Zeitz,
Ben Zeitz, Wendy Anderson, Gregory Zeitz, Mark Zeitz, and Alex Zeitz, and
friends.
Funeral
Services will be held on Oct.26 from 9-10 at Superstition
Funeral Service, 398 E. Old West Hwy,
Apache Junction, AZ. Celebration of Life gathering to follow from 11-1:30
at Dolce Vita Grand Ballroom, 3301 S. Goldfield Road, Apache Junction, AZ 85119
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name
may be sent to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/) and the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/).
Free
I am free to
fly on wind,
to catch the breeze,
floating where I please.
I am free to
shine with the sun,
to light up the day
in my own special way.
I am free
without my body,
to live on in your memory.
Apache Junction News Office
480.982.6397
Superstition Funeral Home website 480.982.2727