Bertha L. (Hoyle) Deao Kleese, 69, of Washington died Monday, July 25, 2011 at the M.L. McCreedy Home in Washington following a short illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2011 at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington with Pastor Gene Carpenter officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place in the Elm Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established to Iowa City Hospice and Washington County Relay for Life. Online condolences may be sent for Bertha's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Bertha was born December 12, 1941 in Washington County, Iowa the daughter of Dwight D. and Olive "Louise" (Cady) Hoyle. She attended Washington Country Schools and attended the Fairfield School District. Bertha was united in marriage to James Deao Sr. in Lockridge, Iowa. They later divorced. Bertha was later united in marriage to Bob Kleese in Washington. Bertha was a homemaker while raising her children. She worked for Northrup King, Hy-Vee for twenty years, KPI, EPC Kalona Plastics for several years and sold Avon Cosmetics. She enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking and baking. Her enjoyment was decorating wedding cakes and other special cakes for family and the public.

Bertha is survived by her daughter, Charlotte Arbogast and husband Steve of Unionville, Iowa; son James "Junior" Deao Jr. and wife Kate of Washington; daughter-in-law, Kathy Deao of Washington; six grandchildren; one great grandson; siblings, Delbert and Kay Hoyle of Washington; Paul and Karen Hoyle of Fairfield; Gene and Lori Hoyle of Washington; Glen and Jane Hoyle of Ainsworth; Marilyn and Dick Martin of Brighton; Kathryn and Dick Newman of Brighton; Donna and Beryl Rugg of Wayland; Wayne and Amy Hoyle of Crawfordsville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Darrel Deao; her second husband, Bob; one brother, Larry Edward; one sister, Luella Jane; two grandchildren; and her brother-in-law, Horst Joos.