Paul A. Kleppe, 84, of rural Hiawatha, died Monday evening, June 29, 2015, at Hiawatha Community Hospital.

He was born February 16, 1931, near Leona, the only child born to Adam and Lula (Gilmore) Kleppe.  Paul went to school at Prairie Springs and Robinson before graduating from Hiawatha High School in1949.  He wed his high school sweetheart, Mary Fraser, November 5, 1950, at the First Christian Church in Hiawatha.  They lived their entire lives in Brown and Doniphan counties where Paul farmed, raised livestock, and worked thirty-six years as a soil conservation technician and non point service coordinator, retiring in 2013.  Paul served five counties in northeast Kansas as one of the first area conservation technicians.

Paul like to drive with Mary around the area and see the waterways and terraces he designed and laid out and know that they were saving the soil.  He was proud that both his grandsons followed in his footsteps with careers in the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Paul is survived by his wife Mary of the home, a son Bruce Kleppe, daughter Debra (Jim) Ewing, all of Hiawatha; four grandchildren:  Gilay (Richard) Allen of Billings, Montana, Justin (Sherame) Kneisel of Benton, Karma (Chad) Langford of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Jarred (Jennifer) Kneisel of Hutchinson; and 15 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant daughter Mary Beth.

Cremation is planned with the family visiting with friends from 6 until 8 Thursday evening at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Morrill Public Library or Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, which may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

A special message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com