Rubie Kloesel died at Stevens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hallettsville on May 2, 2006. Mrs. Kloesel was born on May 9, 1911 in Freyburg, Texas to Willie and Lena Grasshoff. She is preceded in death by her husband Arthur Kloesel, parents Willie Grasshoff and Lena Schumacher Grasshoff, her brother Lawrence Grasshoff, and sister Pearl Grasshoff Beasley. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Arlyn and Mary Carol Strauss Kloesel of Austin; two grandchildren Dr. Kevin Kloesel and wife Bonnie of Norman, OK, and Scott Kloesel of Victoria; and two great-grandchildren Ryan Kloesel and Megan Kloesel of Norman, OK.

At age six and after the death of her father Willie Grasshoff; Rubie, her mother, sister and brother moved from Freyburg to Schulenburg. Rubie worked for the Grasshoff Meat Market, and in several department stores in Schulenburg during her teens. She graduated from Schulenburg High School on May of 1930. After her marriage to Arthur Kloesel on March 4 of 1935 in Schulenburg, the two moved to Hallettsville to open Star Cleaners at 115 East 2nd street, on the north side of the courthouse square. The two owned and operated Star Cleaners for 43 years until 1979 at which time Arthur retired, but Rubie continued to work for a year or so to help the new owner learn more about the cleaning business. Rubie's job a Star Cleaners was to clean the clothes. She worked for years in a building behind the main building, which had no air-conditioning or heat, but she rarely complained about her work or the condition in which she worked. During the early years, Star Cleaners did not have closing hours. Cleaning that came in during the day, was ready for pick up in the afternoon or delivered at night. Many remember Rubie as being a masterful seamstress and cleaner. She also served as the bookkeeper for the operation, paying the bills etc. If one were walking the streets of the square in Hallettsville in the 1940's, 50's and 60's, Rubie could be seen late on Saturday nights sewing or altering for either the patrons of Star Cleaners or her family.

After retirement, Rubie was stricken with Alzheimer's disease, and on September 1, 1989, she became a resident of Stevens Convalescent Center in Hallettsville where she remained until her death.

Service: 10am, Friday, May 5, 2006 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville. Visitation: 4:30pm, Thursday at Kubena Funeral Home. Rosaries: 7pm, Thursday at Kubena Funeral Home and 9:30am, Friday at Sacred Heart Church. Officiate: Rev. John Peters. Burial: Sacred Heart Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, memorials to Sacred Heart Church or School. Pallbearers: Kevin Kloesel, Scott Kloesel, Ryan Kloesel, Alfred Schaer, David Smolik, and Jason Williams. Honorary Pallbearers: Megan Kloesel, Ed Schlenker, and Fred Strauss.