Lea Hoover of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, under hospice care. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 24, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Washington Creek Cemetery.
Born August 22, 1932, in New York, New York, Lea Adrienne was the only child to Ada Marie (Mangiarotti) and Charles Ernest Nagel. She graduated from James Monroe High School, Bronx, New York, in 1950. Lea worked for New York Metropolitan Life Insurance and the YWCA of the City of New York before moving to Kansas.
Lea married Eugene F. Kletchka in 1961 and started a family of three children while living in Lawrence. She later married Clyde Raymond Hoover in 1982. Lea was a Certified Nurse Aide for the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) where she worked until her retirement. She enjoyed gardening, sewing and reading. Lea used her handiwork to create beautiful doll clothes and teddy bears. She donated many of these to The Salvation Army of Douglas County.
Lea is survived by her daughter Rebecca Hilt (Perry) of Wichita, Kan.; son John Kletchka (Londa) of Amarillo, Texas; daughter Anne Kirchner (Shane) of McPherson, Kan.; and grandchildren Christopher Kirchner, Hannah Kirchner and Michael Hilt. She will be remembered for her compassion for nature, family and Christian faith. Her nurturing spirit touched many lives through her VNA work, volunteer service and friendships.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association, The Lawrence Humane Society or Meals on Wheels of Eastern Kansas, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Streaming Online will be at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcyMzUxNDY5ODMyMzMwMyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJnZpZXdfYnV0dG9u
