Klein, Willard L. – 1924-1985

ANGOVE, DE RONDE, DYKSTRA, FISHER, KLEIN, MEYER, VAN ESSEN, VAN DEN BERG, VANDER WERFF

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp (email)
Date: 6/19/2016 at 09:20:56

Services Held
Willard L. Klein, 61, of Otley, owner-operator of the Otley Stockyards, died Sunday, June 9, 1985, at his home.
Services were held Wednesday at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
The Rev. Siebert Kramer, pastor of the church and the Rev. Wesley Van Dyk of Iowa City conducted services. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Military graveside rites were held.
Survivors are his wife, a son, three daughters, 13 grandchildren, three brothers and three sisters, including Gladys DeRonde of Newton.
Source: Monroe Mirror; 13 June 1985

Willard L. Klein, 61, died June 9 at his residence in Otley. He was born on March 19, 1924, four miles west of Pella, the son of Gradus A. Klein and Anna Van Den Berg.
He attended the Silver Grove country school near Pella, the Franklin Center School in Pleasantville, and the Fifield country school in Marion County. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945 and served until his honorable discharge in 1946. He married Roberta Irene Fisher on Jan. 23, 1948 at Fifield. He and a partner owned “The Dairy Inn” in Pella and later he worked on a dragline. He worked for the Otley Co-op and in 1949 bought his first straight truck. He joined in a partnership in the trucking business, and after dissolving the partnership in 1954, he took over the hog business from the Otley Co-op and named his trucking business the Otley Stockyards, which he owned and operated until his death. He was a member of the Otley Christian Reformed Church and also served as a deacon. He later transferred his membership to the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. He and Roberta organized a Little League Baseball Team for Otley and he served on the water board for the Otley Public Utilities. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 5242 in Pella and the American Legion Post No. 363 in Monroe.
He is survived by his wife: Roberta; three sisters: Alice (Mrs. Harold Van Essen) Tracy; Mrs. Gladys De Ronde, Newton; Geraldine (Mrs. Gerald Angove) Des Moines; three brothers: Arvin G. Klein, Pella; Virgil P. Klein, Otley; Wayne E. Klein, Pella; four children and their spouses: Laura Lee and Duane K. Meyer, Pella; Kevin Eugene and Tomi Klein, Lincoln, Neb.; Cheryl Ann and David Vander Werff, Reasnor; Nancy Irene and Paul C. Dykstra, Monroe; and 13 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and a grandson.
Services were held June 12 at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, with Rev. Siebert Kramer and Rev. Wesley Van Dyk officiating. Burial was at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella with military honors by the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Pella or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were made by Van Dyk Duven Funeral Home.
Source: Pella Chronicle; Wednesday, 19 June 1985