Lowell L. KLEMME

KLEMME, TAPPER, OSWEILER, RAY, BECHLER, SCHULTZ, STROEHLEIN, PEDERSON, HANNER, LEHMANN, GRABOWSKI, KRUSE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

June 23, 1927 ---- April 10, 2018

Lowell Klemme, 90, of Le Mars, passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Le Mars. The Rev. Dr. Jean Ziettlow and Rev. Chris Meier will officiate. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Merrill, Iowa, with military rites provided by the American Legion Oleson-Halweg Post 125 of Merrill. Visitation with the family will be after 3 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Lowell L. Klemme was born on June 23, 1927, on a farm in Preston Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa, the son of Fred and Etta (Tapper) Klemme. Lowell was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Preston Township. He attended country school in Preston Township and later high school in Le Mars, where he graduated from Le Mars Central in 1945.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Sept. 18, 1946. He served his country during World War II. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to the Le Mars area. He was united in marriage to Vivian Osweiler on April 18, 1949 at St. James Catholic Church Rectory. Lowell and Vivian moved to Thor, Iowa, where he operated the Standard Oil Tank Service. While in Thor, they were blessed with a son, Rodney. In June 1955, Vivian and Lowell moved to Merrill, where he was transferred as the Standard Oil agent. While living in Merrill, the family was again blessed with the births of Julie, Barb, and Robin. Lowell worked with Standard Oil for more than 25 years until he sold his business to Plymouth Coop in the 1980s. Lowell worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 26 years, working 16 years as a substitute mail carrier and the last 10 years as a full-time carrier. Lowell also sold real estate in Le Mars and Merrill for more than 21 years. He also worked for 15 years mowing at the Le Mars Municipal Golf Course. Lowell worked as a funeral assistant for Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars for several years, retiring in June 2007 so he could take care of his wife. Vivian passed away on Dec. 8, 2014.

Lowell was a former member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Merrill, where he held several officer positions. After moving to Le Mars in 1993, he became a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he ushered for many years. He was a member of the American Legion Oleson-Halweg Post 125 in Merrill and the World War II Last Man Standing Club in Le Mars. He was also a longtime member of the Le Mars Lion's Club and former Le Mars Elks Club. He served on the Thor Fire Department for five years and for the Merrill Fire Department for 30 years. He served one term on the Le Mars Community School Board. Lowell loved to tell stories and jokes and visiting with people. Lowell and Vivian enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad, dancing, golfing, and playing in many card clubs in Le Mars and Merrill. He also enjoyed playing pitch with the guys at the Legion in Le Mars and bowling for many years in league. Lowell and Vivian enjoyed attending all of their grandchildren's activities as much as possible.

Survivors include a son, Rodney (Mary) Klemme of Menomonee Falls, Wis., and their children, Scott (Megan) Klemme and their daughter, Ella Ray of Carlsbad, Calif., and Katy (Shane) Bechler of Menlo Park, Calif.; a daughter, Julie (Doug) Schultz of Le Mars, and their children, Brian (Shauna) Schultz of Le Mars and their children, Grayson and Kendall, Steve (Mallori) Schultz of Sioux Falls, S.D., and their children, Gunner and Scarlett, and Tyler Schultz of Le Mars; a daughter, Barbara Klemme (Tim Stroehlein) of Littleton, Colo., and her children, Travis Pederson of Bozeman, Mont., and Alysha Pederson of Broomfield, Colo.; a son, Robin (Rhonda) Klemme of Merrill, and their children, Trent (Virginia) Hanner of Oyens, Iowa, and their children, Riley and Raiden, Jacob (Samantha) Lehmann of Sioux Falls, and their children, Talan, Grace, and Knox, and Ryan (Rachel) Lehmann of Sioux Falls; two sisters-in-law, Betty Klemme of Akron, Iowa, and Caroline Grabowksi of Titusville, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vivian; his sister, Irene Kruse; and six brothers, Benny in infancy, Arnold, Norman, Alvin, Leonard, and Harvey.

Sioux City Journal -- Sioux City, Iowa
April 12, 2018