ELMER KLAS 1929-2003

KLAS, OBERBROECKLING, ALTHOFF, LEIBOLD, BORGERDING, HEILERS, RINIKER

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/11/2003 at 14:48:33

Elmer Klas

Telegraph Herald - Sunday, September 14, 2003

NEW VIENNA, Iowa -- Elmer Klas, 74, of New Vienna, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at home, after a brief illness.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, New Vienna, with the Rev. John O'Connor officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where there will be a parish scripture service at 7 p.m.

Mr. Klas farmed all his life and was the fourth generation to farm the 150-year-old Klas farm.

He was born on Aug. 22, 1929, on the Klas farm, north of New Vienna, in Liberty Township of Dubuque County, son of Henry F. and Wilhelmina (Oberbroeckling) Klas.

He attended St. Boniface Grade and High School, New Vienna, and graduated in the class of 1947.

He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, New Vienna, and was the secretary/treasurer and board member of the New Vienna Coop Oil Co. from 1960 to 1979. He was a charter member of the Tri-County Sportsmen's Club and formerly hosted the annual trap shoot on the Klas farm.

He will be remembered for his love and respect for the land, his enjoyment of a good solo card game, his sense of humor and his appreciation for family history and reunions.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Leona Althoff, of Dyersville; a brother-in-law, Charles Leibold, of Earlville; 27 nieces and nephews; and many great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; nine sisters, Loretta Klas, Mary Borgerding, Ida and Tillie Klas, Alvina Heilers, Rose Riniker, Esther and Martha Jane Klas and Irene Leibold; four brothers-in-law, Ben Borgerding, Ted Althoff, Albert Heilers and Stephen Riniker; and a nephew, Joseph Leibold.

Memorials may be given to Tri-County Sportsmen's Club and the New Vienna Fire Department.