Dorothy (Dot) V. Kleeman

97, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on December 14, 2024. Born on August 6, 1927, Dot, the youngest of ten children of Carlo and Orsola (Cena) Tapparo, was one of two born in Colorado after the family moved from Italy in the early ‘20’s. Dot was raised on a farm near Bennett as well as on the Lone Star Ranch south of Elizabeth. As a young girl, Dot would ride a horse guided by her older brother, Norman, to the one room Nestor schoolhouse. While attending Elizabeth High School, Dot met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Kleeman. Before marrying Bob on March 28, 1946, Dot worked at the Kiowa County Clerk’s office for two years, and then as an assistant at the Elizabeth post office. 

The next 72+ years of marriage brought about a family of four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Dot’s devotion to her family and her Catholic faith was evident every day. She took pride in keeping a clean and orderly home which welcomed all. From French guests to her religious education students, Dot enjoyed hosting family and friends for a variety of events.

Perhaps Dot’s favorite job was that of being an administrative assistant in the College of Business at the University of Denver. When she retired from this job, Dot took it upon herself to organize the history of both the Tapparo and Kleeman families in notebooks filled with copies of photos, articles, certificates, maps, and timelines for each of her children. Her family treasures this thoughtful work. 

A dignified, graceful, gentle, and kind friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Dot is pre-deceased by her husband, Bob, and survived by her daughter Sharon (Tom) Dobson; son, Gary (Katie) Kleeman; son, Lary (Sue) Kleeman and son, Patrick Kleeman. Also, eight grandchildren—Hillary (Andy Sherwood) Dobson, Martha (Ryan) Carr, Harry (Leticia) Kleeman, Riley (Katherine) Kleeman, Vinnie (fiancé Kaitlyn) Kleeman, Charlie (Taylor) Kleeman , Joey (fiancé Anna) Kleeman, and Niko Kleeman—and five great-grandchildren, Luke and Mickey Sherwood, Cooper and Adeline Carr, and Murphy Kleeman.

 In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Little Sisters of the Poor.