Today, Patricia Klag lives in a tidy home in Middlefield Village with her cat, Holly — her spry demeanor and friendly, open smile showing little sign of the nearly 100 years that have passed since she was delivered on her family’s farm in Troy Township.
Today, Patricia Klag lives in a tidy home in Middlefield Village with her cat, Holly — her spry demeanor and friendly, open smile showing little sign of the nearly 100 years that have passed since she was delivered on her family’s farm in Troy Township.
Born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1919, Klag is currently making plans for her upcoming birthday party, which will be celebrated March 16.
Her party, held at the Burton Congregational Church from 2-5 p.m., has an open house invitation for anyone interested in wishing Klag a happy birthday and enjoying some refreshments.
Klag laughed when she recounted the story of her birth.
“Dr. McManackle, from Garrettsville, came in a horse and buggy,” she said, delving into her family’s history.
The oldest of five children, Klag was born to William and Bertha Dietritch. Her parents, who owned a 208-acre farm, instilled a strong appreciation for learning and community in their children. William obtained his pilot’s license and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol as well as a figurehead in the establishment of the Ohio Farm Bureau.
He loved the land and spent time working in reclamation through the state of Ohio to replant trees after strip mine operations. Bertha dedicated her life to running a farm and raising her children. She sewed their clothes, preserved the produce from the farm and helped her local community.
Those were traditions Klag would carry on after she graduated from Troy Township School, which her daughter, Georgene Fairbanks — who flew in from California to attend and plan her mother’s birthday — remembers well.
“She won awards in Burton for her garden. She was always bringing seeds home and trying to grow them here,” she said.
Klag is a treasure trove of memories that illustrate the history of the people of Geauga County — from her earliest memories of winning first place in the Troy Township Homecoming Parade with her pony, “Beauty,” to ice skating on the Cuyahoga River with her siblings and playing trumpet in the Geauga County band at the Geauga County Maple Festival.
She also fondly recalls her many days spent laughing with best friend Anne Hollo as they worked at the Maple House in Burton Village.
Klag has witnessed the growth of a town from farms that didn’t have running water or electricity to the modern village it is today.
During the depression, her father took in-transient farm labor at their home. She remembers the hardships of rationing during World War II — a war both her brothers served in. Through it all, Klag worked hard and always looked for a reason to smile. In addition to raising four children of her own, she taught herself how to decorate cakes and loved to dance Polka with her husband, Julian.
She was a member of the Bowling Banquet at Hellriegels Inn in Painesville and has been a member of the Burton Congregational Church for over 50 years.
“I loved everything. The people, we were just friends. Everything was always positive. We all had fun together,” Klag said.
Her love for her community and dedication to the people has been reciprocated. She was included in the dedication ceremony for the Troy Township school bell and was selected to be one of four grand marshalls in the Troy Township Homecoming Parade.
These days, Klag’s favorite pastime is to take a Sunday drive through the town to view the open pastures and nature that makes Geauga County exceptional. Away from the houses and stores, she likes to watch the deer, rabbits and other wildlife she remembers from her youth.
Of Irish and German ancestry, having a birthday on St. Patrick’s Day has always been a little bit special for Klag.
This year, she said she’s thrilled to add the extra designation of celebrating her 100th birthday with her family and the community that helped to shape her and that she, in turn, gave so much to.
