Melody Dawn Kleintank

Melody Dawn Kleintank was a wonderful, beautiful, and deeply loving woman whose life was a testament to faith, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Born on October 29, 1952, to Donald and Thelma Woodall, née Hampton, Melody entered the world with a gentle strength and a generous heart that would define every chapter of her life.

It was from a young age that Melody carried responsibility with grace. She helped raise her three younger brothers, Gregory, Clinton, and Bradford Woodall, whom she adored with all her heart. They were always “her boys”, and she loved them fiercely, nurturing them with devotion, protection, and pride. Melody fell deeply in love with and married her high school sweetheart Roger Kleintank on Feb 19th, 1971. After high school, both Melody and Roger attended the University of Cincinnati, where Melody earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. A gifted writer with a lifelong love of reading and learning, Melody believed deeply in the power of words and education. Teaching was not simply her profession, it was her vocation. She began her career in daycare and elementary education, shaping young lives with patience and care. She was a devoted wife and moved with her family to Mexico to support her husband in his journey through Medical school, embracing a new culture and language with courage and humility. There, she taught English at the University of Guadalajara, pouring her love of language and learning into her students while continuing to give everything she had to her family.

Motherhood was her greatest joy, and her six children remain the heart of her legacy. She nurtured each of them with unwavering love, guidance, and faith, shaping them into the remarkable individuals they are today. Nathaniel Christian Kleintank (Kate), her firstborn, is her rock and foundation, the child who first taught her the depth of a mother’s love. Sarah Elizabeth Curtis (Wayne), her first daughter, carries Melody’s zest for life, warmth, and outgoing spirit. Jacob Charles Kleintank (Michelle), serious and deeply creative, reflects her thoughtful nature and love for ideas. Ruth Grace Matuszewski (Paul), her passionate daughter, embodies Melody’s strength and devotion to her faith. Benjamin Edward Kleintank (Bridgette), her intelligent and introspective son, is a deep thinker with a gentle soul. Luke Richard Kleintank (Christina), her youngest and forever her baby, embodies the pure love she felt, he is the definition of family above all else. Together, they were the center of her world, the purpose of her life, and her greatest accomplishment. To them, she is the “Queen of their hearts", “the wind beneath their wings”, and the steady love that carries them through every season of life.

She was a devoted Granny to sixteen beloved grandchildren: Melody Rose Kleintank (21), Jacob Charles Kleintank Jr. (19) Charlotte Evelyn Kleintank (12), Lucille Harper Kleintank (1) Bella Grace Curtis (19), Scarlett Dawn Curtis (16), Joshua Andrew Kleintank (15), Ilyana Rebecca Curtis (13), Aria Merciella Kleintank (10), Eva Marie Kleintank (7) Grant Edward Matuszewski (7), Diana May Matuszewski (4), David Joseph Matuszewski (8 mos), Ruby Roland Kleintank (3), Viggo Allan Kleintank (1), and Filomena Melody Kleintank (TBD). She cherished every one of her grandbabies, always giving them pure and unconditional love.

Melody was a deeply rooted Catholic, and her faith was the foundation of her life. She lived her beliefs daily, instilling faith, compassion, discipline, and love in her children. Her prayers were constant, her devotion unwavering, and her example spoke louder than words. She was the quiet strength, the steady presence, and the spiritual anchor of her family.

Melody Dawn Kleintank passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 27, 2025, at the home of her daughter Ruthie, on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, a day that reflected everything she held dear. Surrounded by the love of her family in spirit, she went home to God, leaving a legacy of faith, devotion, and unconditional love. Her life was a living testament to the power of family, and she now rests eternally in the embrace of the Holy Family she so cherished. She was a pure soul who gave endlessly, loved fiercely, and lived faithfully. Her legacy lives on in the faith she instilled, the family she built, and the countless lives she touched.She will be tenderly remembered, sorely missed, and never, ever forgotten.

Melody's Final message to her children on Christmas Day 2025:

“How blessed we are. How I love my precious family. This year, my prayer for all of you is the same one the Blessed Mother taught us at Maranatha. My beloved children, always live in Holy Love in this present moment.”