John A. Klopp 1886-1918

KLOPP, TORRENS, BROWN, BRUCKER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 8/19/2010 at 21:51:00

John A. Klopp Dies at Sioux Falls on Thursday
Born and Grew to Manhood in This City
Funeral Held on Sunday
Only Son of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Klopp – Was Very Popular Among Associates

Estherville people received a serious shock last Thursday morning when news of the death of John A. Klopp rapidly spread over the city. John was a former Estherville boy, born and grew to manhood in this city and had scores of friends who honored and respected him for his clean life, his honesty and his application to business. He was the youngest child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. John J. Klopp, of this city.

John would have been thirty-two years of age on Christmas eve [dob – December 24, 1886]. He attended the local schools and graduated from them with honors. Following the completion of his school work he went to Nebraska where he spent six months in a bank. Following this experience he returned home and accepted a position with the Churchill Drug Co., of Cedar Rapids, a position he filled with credit for four years. At the end of that time he accepted a position with the Brown Drug Co., of Sioux Falls, and moved to that city.

It was while he held this position that he met and married Miss Lucy Brucker of that city. That was six years ago last October. Theirs was an ideal married life and the wife is prostrate with grief over the loss of a kind and loving husband. She is still in the hospital suffering with pneumonia, but is improving nicely at this writing.

Last spring John left the employ of the Brown Drug Co. and accepted a position with the Van Brunt Overland company and was identified with them at the time of his death. He soon established a reputation with them as a hustler and was one of their most trusted and valued employees at the time of his death. He was a well known figure throughout the state and left many friends who sincerely mourned the loss of a true friend and associate.

Besides the wife he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Klopp of this city, three sisters, Miss Dorothy, of this city, Mrs. J. E. Torrens, of Minneapolis, and Mrs. J. H. Brown, of International Falls, Minn.

Funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon, being in charge of Dean E. D. Woodruff, of the Episcopal church. The services were of a private nature. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, showing the esteem in which he was held in his home city.

The mysteries of life and death are beyond human comprehension. Why this popular young business man should be cut down in the prime of a life that was filled to the utmost with service to humanity, is hard to understand, but some day the clouds shall be rolled away and all will be explained to us. Until that time shall come we shall have to content ourselves with the sweet memories of the life that has gone on before to await the loved ones in that better land. The grief of the loved ones can only be lessened by Him who holds the destinies of the world in his hand, and to Him we commit them. Their hearts are bowed under the head of grief, and yet they are proud of the spotless record left them by one they loved so deeply. They have the deepest sympathies of the whole community during these dark hours. Would that we could in some manner lighten their burden, but we can only point them to the happy reunion which is awaiting them in that better land. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, December 11, 1918)

John Klopp Dies of Flu
Beloved Son of Auditor and Mrs. J.J. Klopp
Was Ill Only a Few Days
Funeral and Burial Service Held in Sioux Falls at the Home of the Deceased

This community was greatly shocked Thursday morning when word reached here that John Klopp had fallen a victim of the Spanish influenza and had passed away in one of the hospitals in Sioux Falls Wednesday [December 4, 1918] night.

John was an Estherville product, the son of County Auditor and Mrs. J. J. Klopp, of this city. It was here that he grew to manhood and until he was twenty-three years of age had made his home with his parents in this city.

He was one of our best and brightest young men; always a manly young man, a gentleman and greatly beloved by a wide circle of friends. He had a bright future before him and his untimely death will cause many a heartache even outside the home circle.

Nine years ago he went to Sioux Falls and while there proved his worth in business circles and had made good at every turn.

Of his death and concerning his life the Daily Argus-Leader of that city says:

Death claimed one of Sioux Falls’ most popular and enterprising business men this morning when John A. Klopp died at Sioux Falls hospital following a brief illness of pneumonia. The news was received with profound sorrow by the many business associates and friends of Mr. Klopp and his wife who is now ill in the same hospital, threatened with pneumonia.

Mr. Klopp, who would have been 32 years of age on Christmas eve, is the youngest child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Klopp of Estherville, Iowa, who reached Sioux Falls Wednesday evening and were at their son’s bedside when the end came. He had been a resident of Sioux Falls the past nine years. For eight years he was associated with the Brown Drug Company of this city and while in that capacity became widely acquainted over the state, as well as in the city. Last spring he severed his connection with that firm and went to the Van Brunt Overland Company, where he remained up to the time of his death. He was known by his associates as a hustler.

Six years ago last October Mr. Klopp was married to Miss Lucy Brucker and the couple have resided at 212 West Nineteenth street. Aside from his wife deceased is survived by three sisters, Miss Dorothy Klopp of Estherville; Mrs. J. E. Torrens, of Minneapolis; and Mrs. J. H. Brown of International Falls, Minnesota.

The funeral will be held from the family residence at 3:30 Sunday afternoon. It will be private. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, December 11, 1918)