Jo Kleffner

1934 - 2025

Jo Ella "Jo" Kleffner of Moscow, ID passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 24, 2025 at Paradise Creek Assisted Living facility.

Jo Ella was born January 6, 1934 in Boise, ID to Harold "Ham" Hamilton and Pearl Glenn. Jo Ella grew up playing at Camels Back Park and all around her grandmother's home on 8th street in Boise. As an only child, she was raised and adored by her Uncle Dewey, grandmother and her mother Pearl.

Jo Ella sailed through the K-12 school system in Boise, graduating in 1952 from Boise High School. Following graduation from high school, Jo Ella attended the University of Idaho. Following in her mother's footsteps, she pledged the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She loved having sisters for the first time and flourished at UI. She stayed close with her sisters and maintained a strong life long affiliation with the sorority. She was honored for her lifetime of service at the recent 110 year reunion.

Jo Ella grew up knowing her eventual husband, Flip Kleffner. During her first year at college, they saw each other through different eyes and started dating. They married on September 18, 1955. Their marriage is a love story. Mom adored dad. At night you could hear them visiting and giggling together. When visiting, those were the sounds that rocked us to sleep. In the last years together, they read books to each other as they closed out each day. According to their children, Jo Ella and Flip raised six well-adjusted children.

Jo Ella had a strong commitment and belief in helping others. She often hired cleaning ladies that her mother, Pearl, and her kids cleaned up after. She was her own social service agency. Jo Ella often opened the family home to people who needed time and space to reset their lives. We have fond Friday evening memories sitting on the kitchen floor with one of our lodgers sampling smoked oysters, sardines and other exotic treats. While raising her family in Boise, Jo Ella was involved with Marionettes, Junior League, March of Dimes, and Compassionate Friends. Due to her years of service for the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, she was honored as one of four women to have their portrait on the wall in the chapter house library. After moving back to Moscow, Idaho in 1980, Jo Ella was a tireless champion of the XI chapter of Gamma Phi Beta. Throughout her time, she held all of the leadership roles available. She was an intelligent, levelheaded, kind, funny influence for the girls and all involved. Jo Ella also volunteered with Meals on Wheels.in Moscow. Her grandchildren often accompanied her on this mission; They would invariably spend time with those on their route. always running a little late.

Jo Ella is preceded in death by her sweet Flip, her mother Pearl, and her oldest son Phil. She is survived by her son Matt (Marie) Kleffner, daughter Katie (Rich) Christensen, daughter Jenny (Walter) Tribley, son Brett Kleffner, and daughter Heidi (Herb) Sprinkel, 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church located at 618 East 1st Street, Moscow, ID. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 Wednesday evening August 27th and a Funeral Mass will be offered 11:00 Thursday August 28, with a reception following in the Parish Family Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Jo Ella's memory be made to the UI Foundation for the Philip L. and Jo Ella Kleffner Scholarship fund, or the Moscow Food Bank.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow and condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.com.