KLEMESRUD, Robert Duane 1924-2015

KLEMESRUD, WILLIAMS, RYNER, ROTHMEYER, BLUNT

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 6/12/2015 at 17:02:20

Robert “Bob” Duane Klemesrud, Sr., age 91, of Osage, peacefully passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage, after a courageous two year battle with lung cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at Rock Creek Lutheran Church, 3269 Foothill Avenue, Osage, Iowa, with Pastor David A. Werges and Diaconal Minister Elayne J. Werges officiating. Burial will be in the Rock Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage.

Robert “Bob” Duane Klemesrud, Sr. was born May 31, 1924, to Herbert and Laura (Williams) Klemesrud on their farm in west Cedar Township, Mitchell County, Iowa. He attended country school Cedar #3 until eighth grade and graduated from Rudd High School in 1941. Bob spent one year at ISU and then joined the Navy, attended boot camp at Farragut, Idaho, and attended Wright Junior College in Chicago to become a radio technician. He also attended Oklahoma A&M, then went to Treasure Island Naval Station in California for more training. He served on the USS Franks as an electrician technician mate in the Japanese war zone during World War II. In 1946, Bob came back to farm with his dad.

He was married on September 14, 1947, to Joan Ryner in Bethany, Missouri, and they were blessed with six children. Bob served Rock Creek Lutheran Church as deacon, trustee, financial secretary, Brotherhood president, Sunday School teacher, and was cemetery secretary for nine years. He served on several boards: Rudd Farmer’s Co-op, Osage Co-op Oil, Mitchell County Fair, ASC Committee, and also worked measuring land for the ASC. He and his sons were in the purebred spotted hog business, and showed them around the country.

This culminated with his induction into the Iowa Purebred Spotted Hog Breeders Hall of Fame. Bob retired from farming in 1986 but continued as a DeKalb seed salesman. He and Joan lived on the original Harald Klemesrud farm and moved to Osage in 2002. For the past ten months, they enjoyed living at the Faith Assisted Living in Osage. Bob participated in sports, especially baseball, and is still remembered for his pitching ability with several area town teams. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, and playing cards with his family and friends. After retirement Bob beautified his yard with many flowers. He liked watching the Minnesota Twins on TV. Bob had the ability to remember names and dates and always called people by their first name. He had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed a good joke.

Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan of Osage; children, Bob (Nancy) of Nora Springs, Wendell (Paula) of Cedar Springs, Michigan, Lori of Mason City, Randy of Nora Springs, and Kevin (Mellony) of Osceola; grandchildren and their families, Matt Klemesrud, Andy (Joni) Klemesrud and their sons, Nolan and Drew, Kathryn Klemesrud, Joseph Klemesrud, Gretchen Klemesrud and her daughters, Julie and Kylie, Sarah (Dan King) Klemesrud and their son, Brock, Jack (Katie) Klemesrud and their children, Carter, Kenna and Lydia, Kristin Klemesrud, and Kacey Klemesrud; step-grandchildren, Jeff Jamison, Janelle (Andy) Theobald, and Jared Jamison; sister-in-law, Carrie Daly of Fort Collins, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Barbara; brother, Kent Klemesrud Daly; sister, Patricia (Bill) Rothmeyer; twin sister in infancy, Kathleen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marie (George) Blunt, Ernest (Ida) Ryner, Donald (Marcella) Ryner, Willard (Shirley) Ryner and Vera (Bob) Carroll.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home 641-732-3706

Source: Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home website
See also: Mason City Globe Gazette, 14 JUN 2015.