White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

Jesup – Cleone Josephine Demuth, 86 years old, of Jesup, Iowa, died Thursday, October 20, 2011, at the Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon, Iowa, of natural causes. She was born July 6, 1925, at Waterloo, the daughter of Leonard Reiter and Pearl (Schmitz) Reiter. She graduated from Jesup High School with the class of 1943. On September 29, 1945, she was united in marriage to Paul Franklin Demuth at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. The couple made their home in the Jesup area where they farmed and raised 12 children.

Cleone was a lifelong volunteer giving her time to St. Athanasius School as a reading mentor, to St. Athanasius Church as a member of the Liturgy Committee, long time member and former president of the Altar and Rosary Society, a member of the Bereavement Committee and a member of the funeral choir until her health prevented her from participation in these activities. In former years she was a member of the Jesup Ambulance Crew, a 4-H leader, a Red Cross Nine-Gallon Club blood donor, and a member of the Buchanan County Extension Leadership Council, as well as a counselor for the Right to Life organization in the Dubuque Archdiocese. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and spending time at their summer home in Waterville, Minnesota and winter home in McAllen, Texas. She enjoyed reading, playing cards and crocheting. She made many afghans for donation to bazaars and fund raisers. She crocheted an afghan for each of her children and grandchildren as treasured high school graduation gifts. She enjoyed visits with friends and neighbors but most of all enjoyed drop-in visits from her children and grandchildren. She looked forward to family celebrations. Cleone will be remembered for her quiet presence, her gracious and generous spirit and her love for her family.

She is survived by her children, James (Meriel) Demuth of Clarion, Iowa; Barb Sharp of Barre, Vermont; Marilyn (Lynn) Schulte of Prole, Iowa; Anthony (Debbie) Demuth of St. Joseph, Missouri; Ruth Demuth of Tiffin, Iowa; Teresa (Michael) Myers of Waukon, Iowa; Rose (Edward) Irlbeck of Dedham, Iowa; Fritz (Marge) Demuth of Jesup, Iowa; Ron (Sylvia) Demuth of Encinitas, California; David Demuth of Waukon, Iowa; Sue Tarasi of Ankeny, Iowa; and Pat (Randy) Glassell of Fontanelle, Iowa.  She is also survived by 35 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, her sister Clarice Keegan of Independence and her brother Cletus Reiter of Sacramento, California.

Cleone was preceded in death by her husband Paul “Bud” Demuth in 1998, a grandson Lucas Demuth, her sisters Clementine Zuck and Catherine Brennan, and a son-in-law Frank Tarasi.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. – Monday, October 24, 2011, at St. Athanasius Catholic Church, Jesup, IA, with Fr. Kenneth C. Stecher as celebrant.  Music will be by Brett Hershberger, organist;  Alicia Petersen, soloist,; and the St. Athanasius Choir.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. Cleone’s grandchildren will serve as Casket Bearers.  Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, Iowa, where there will be a Parish Rosary at 3:00 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be for an hour before services Monday at the church.

Memorials will be directed to St. Athanasius Church in Jesup, the Good Samaritan Center, Waukon, and other charities.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, Iowa is in charge of the arrangements.