Kermit Kloppenburg

Kermit Kloppenburg, 92, of Anita, Iowa, passed away Monday, November 16, 2009 at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, Iowa.

Kermit Heinrich Kloppenburg was born January 19, 1917, to Theodore (Ted) and Eugene (Genie) Tibken Kloppenburg on a farm south of Wiota, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church close to the farm. Kermit attended Victor Schools in Union Township through the eighth grade, choosing to help on the farm after that.


In 1933, Kermit went to work in Norway Center in the repair shop. When WWII broke out, Kermit was pardoned from the war in order for him to keep working on farm equipment so farmers could produce food for our country. While working at the repair shop, the school bus went by every day and one of the girls on the bus caught his eye, forever. He married Virginia Margaret Raasch October 18, 1941, in Grand Island, Nebraska.


Kermit opened his own repair shop, Kloppenburg's Garage, in Anita, Iowa, in 1945. He sold the shop in 1953, moved the family to the acreage, and started working for the Wiota Schools as the head bus mechanic and bus driver. During this time he also designed the first street lights for Main Street in Anita. He joined the Anita Fire Department in 1951 and was honored for his many years of service by the state of Iowa. When the Wiota Schools closed, Kermit went to work for the Atlantic School District as head of transportation. He retired in 1983 after 23 years of service. He was named outstanding employee for the school year 1980-81. Not finding retirement interesting enough, Kermit then worked at the Anita State Park for several years.

Every summer Kermit took the family to Spirit Lake to fish, boat and camp. Kermit's talent for woodworking included building the different campers they used for vacationing as well as cupboards, dry sings, bookshelves, tables, chairs, picture frames and his favorite toys. His other interest was puzzles, which have hung in the Post Office, the Anita Library and Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Kermit was a lifetime member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church and served as Elder, Steward, Financial Secretary and Communion Server. He delivered Meals On Wheels until he was 91 and kept up his own garden and yard until May of 2009. He entered the Allen House, in Atlantic, in July of 2009 and lived there until his death.

Survivors include his son Richard (Sandy) Kloppenburg of Ankeny, IA; daughter Carol Trent (Lynn) Dorsey of Anita, IA; son Gary (Lois) Kloppenburg of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Kristin (Mike) Watson, Kimberly (Chip) Williams, Jodi (Scott) Broshar, Jim (Rita) Adams, Kari (LeRoy) Dean, Mark (Kathy) Adams, Mary (John) Nordstrom, Barb (Joel) Christophersen, Lori Erickson, Dawn (Jon) Banks and Cody Trent; step-grandchildren, Sally (Terry) Kloppenburg, Becky (Bernard) Vais, Dan (Marcy) Dorsey; great-grandchildren, Ericka and Tyler Adams, Becky Adams, Matt, Madison Adams, and Lee Dean, James, Jarin and Justin Nordstrum, Cole and Jace Christophersen, Jacob, Nick and Katie Watson, Colby Williams, Taylor and Hannah Broshar, Adison and Sage Erickson; step-great-grandchildren, Ryan and Andrew (Sara) Kloppenburg, Kenneth Kloppenburg, Curtis (Michelle) Vais, Jesse Vais and Taylor and Emma Dorsey; great-great-grandchildren, Kadin, Blake, and Tavon Frisen; step-great-great-grandchild, Jacob Vais. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law, Wayne (Vera) Raasch of Harlan, IA and Larry (Linda) Raasch of East Moline, Ill; and a sister-in-law, Iona Scott of St. Louis, MO.

Preceding Kermit in death were his parents, Theodore and Eugene Kloppenburg, his wife, Virginia in 2002; his daughter, Carolyn in 1956; his son, David in 2005; son-in-law, LaVerne Trent; 2 infant Trent grandchildren; a brother, Roy Kloppenburg; sister-in-law, Lucy Raasch; special nephews, Lawrence Kloppenburg and Kenneth Kloppenburg; and his niece, Luella Wilson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 20, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Anita, Iowa. Visitation will start at 3:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita. Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery south of Wiota, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.