White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Fairbank – Craig N. Kleitsch, 66 years old of Fairbank, IA, died Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon, IA, following an apparent heart attack.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. - Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein, IA, with Fr. Ray E. Atwood as celebrant. Music will be by Linda Murphy, organist and Cheryl Sill, cantor.  Casket Bearers will be James Kleitsch, Kenneth Kleitsch, Thomas Kleitsch, Derek Kleitsch, Trevor Shannon and Chris Shannon with burial at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Fairbank, IA.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA.  Memorials may be directed to the family. Face coverings and social distancing are optional.

Craig was born January 22, 1955, in Sumner, IA, the son of Norbert Lawrence Kleitsch and Loyola Kathryn (Burke) Kleitsch.  He attended Wapsie Valley High School in Fairbank and graduated with the class of 1973.  Craig went on to attend Hawkeye Technical Institute in Waterloo, IA, where he received his Building Trades diploma.  On October 18, 1980, he was united in marriage to Jeanne Alice Shannon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbank, where they also made their home and raised their family.  Craig was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein and was employed at XL Specialized Trailers in Manchester, IA.  He enjoyed playing in competitive adult softball leagues, hunting, spending time at their cabin in Harpers Ferry where he could be on the boat and go fishing. He also enjoyed going to the casinos and raising livestock on the farm, but spending time with his wife, Jeanne, his family and friends, is really what made these activities fulfilling.

Craig is survived by his wife, Jeanne Shannon-Kleitsch of Fairbank, two sons, Mason (Kallie) Kleitsch of Fairbank, Mackenzie (Karly) Kleitsch of Alburnett, IA; one daughter, Meghan Kleitsch of Allison, IA; two grandchildren, Easton Kleitsch and Kimber Kleitsch; his mother, Loyola Kleitsch of Fairbank; three brothers, Kenneth (Judy) Kleitsch of Morrison CO, Thomas Kleitsch of Fairbank, James Kleitsch of Newton, IA; and four sisters, Mary Ann Kleitsch of Fairbank, Susan Shannon of Fairbank, Gail (Dennis) Goedken of Aurora, IA, and Jean (Mitch) Sauerbrei of Fairbank; also several nieces and nephews.

His father, Norbert Kleitsch; a sister in law, Tamra Kleitsch and a brother in law, Patrick Shannon, preceded him in death.

White Funeral Home, 1315 Main Street, Jesup, IA, is in charge of the arrangements.