White Funeral Home
1315 Main Street
Jesup, Iowa 50648

JESUP – Laura Frances Melrose (Orr) Friedrich Klendworth, 94 years old, of rural Independence, IA, died of natural causes, Friday, February 27, 2026, at her home.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. - Monday, March 2, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Jesup, IA, with burial at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Independence.

Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, and will continue for an hour before services, Monday, at the church.

Laura was born September 1, 1931, in rural Buchanan County, Iowa, the daughter of John Daniel Melrose and Laura Blanche (Wyrick) Melrose. Her father died when she was one year old, and her mother would later marry James Blair Orr. James helped raise Laura Frances from the age of five. She attended school in Jesup, Iowa, and graduated with the class of 1950. Later that year she married Herbert Julius Friedrich. Laura worked at a local chicken candling factory and then for a while at Microswitch in Independence. The couple moved to Pennsylvania and Laura worked at the Bonton Department Store. They would divorce in 1967. On August 29, 1969, she married Leroy John Klendworth at the First United Methodist Church in Jesup. They made their home in rural Independence, Iowa, and Laura enjoyed her role as a farmwife, raising her children and grandchildren. For many years she was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Jesup, where she taught Sunday School and volunteered with the women’s group.

Laura is survived by 3 children, Randall (Nancy) Friedrich of Independence; Phillip (Rita) Klendworth of Benbrook, Texas, Brent (Cindy) Klendworth of Fairbank, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Jason (Annette) Pilcher, Rachelle (Jason) Hesse, Zane (Erin) Yandow, Felicia (Wes) Cooper, Chad (April) Klendworth, Brian (Catherine) Klendworth, Dana (Josh) Bair, Kyle (Julia) Klendworth, Justin Klendworth, Jeremy (Amanda) Klendworth, Mackenzie (Rachael) Klendworth; 21 great grandchildren; and 1 great great granddaughter . She’s also survived by 2 sisters, Marianne Cayouette of Jesup, and Cleta Fuller of Brandon, Iowa; 1 son-in-law, Ernest Yandow of Jesup; and many nieces and nephews.

Laura is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leroy Klendworth; her unborn Baby Friedrich; two daughters, Laura Blanche (Friedrich) Wieland and Robin Lynn (Friedrich) Pilcher Yandow; one son, Todd Neil Klendworth; and brothers – in – law, Roland Cayouette and James Fuller.

Memorials may be directed to the church.

Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com.
White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, is in charge of arrangements.