KLOSTERBOER, John, Rev. 1891-1984

KLOSTERBOER, BERGMAN, HATZ

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/13/2016 at 13:50:06

Services Held For Rev. Klosterboer

John Meyer Klosterboer, son of Onno H. and Antje Bergman Klosterboer, was born July 21, 1891 on a farm at Tichelwarf, East Friesland, Germany and died November 4, 1984 at his home in Jefferson, attaining the age of 93 years, 3 months and 13 days.

Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian Church, Jefferson, at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7. Rev. Robert Hart and Rev. Dale Nielsen officiated.

Casket bearers were Harlan Klosterboer, Vernon Klosterboer, Ed Klosterboer, Thomas Buseman, George Buseman and Jack Westerman.

Interment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Center.

John received his early grade school education in his homeland. Since John's mother was the only one of the Bergman family who had not immigrated to America, his parents decided to sell their farm and other properties and move to America also. The family left Tichelwarf by carrier and railway to Bremen and then on to Bremerhaven where they boarded the steamship, Koenigin Luise. They arrived in New York City Harbor, New York in 1903. From there they went by trains to their final destination of New Hartford, Iowa, arriving on May 3, 1903.

John's parents farmed northeast of Parkersburg when John continued his education. On April 13, 1915, at Stout, John became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He later attended the academy of University of Dubuque, Dubuque, and later college at the same university where he graduated in 1918. That same year, John entered the theological seminary at Dubuque. He later attended McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, IL, graduating in 1921. On April 21, 1920, at Hazelton, Iowa, John was licensed to preach by Dubuque Presbytery. He was ordained to the ministry of the gospel by Dubuque Presbytery on April 21, 1921 at Dubuque. He took post-graduate work for two years at Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton University, New Jersey.

Rev. Klosterboer began his pastorate serving Fairview Presbyterian Church and Sedalia Presbyterian Church in Kansas until 1929. He then began serving at Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, Waukon, Iowa. In November of 1942 he transferred to Salem Presbyterian church, Reading, MN, where he served until 1948 when he began serving First Presbyterian Church, Manilla, Iowa. In early 1957 Rev. Klosterboer began serving First Presbyterian Church, Fonda, Iowa until retiring in 1958 after suffering a heart attack.

On April 1, 1933, John was united in marriage to Hilda Hatz at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL. They were the parents of two daughters, Anita and Angela.

On Labor Day, 1958, John and Hilda moved to Jefferson, Iowa. After retirement, Rev. Klosterboer served as interim pastor at several different churches and served as moderator and other offices of his Presbyteries. He was also nominated by the Presbyteries as commissioner to the General Assembly of United Presbyterian Church of the USA.

Rev. Klosterboer was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Hilda, of Jefferson; two daughters, Anita (Mrs. Richard) Anderson of Minneapolis, MN and Angela (Mrs. Richard) Strand of Burnsville, MN; seven grandchildren, Jeff Anderson of Boulder, CO, Julie Anderson of Minneapolis, MN; John and Stephanie Strand of Holland, MI; Kirsten, Brad, and Joshua Strand of Bunsville, MN; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Effie Klosterboer of Grundy Center; other relatives and many friends.

Hastings Funeral Home, Jefferson, was in charge of services.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 November 1984, pg 3