Donald Kluver

Donald Lee "Butch" Kluver was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, June 27, 1959, the son Everett and Phyllis Workmeister Kluver. He was received into God?s Kingdom of Grace through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism September 6, 1959, at Grace Lutheran Church in Marathon, Iowa, and confirmed in his Christian Faith at Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron, Iowa, December 2, 1973. The family resided at Marathon, Iowa, until Butch was three years of age when they moved to the farm at Kiron. He was raised on the farm at Kiron and received his education in Kiron before graduating from the Denison High School with the class of 1977. Following high school he began his lifetime career of farming at Kiron and made his home in Schleswig. On February 21, 1983, Butch was united in marriage with Tammy Franzkowiak in Las Vegas, Nevada, and their union was blessed with one son, Jacob. Butch?s greatest joy in life was farming the land he loved. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing, fishing, cooking, card playing, socializing with and entertaining family and friends and most of all he was extremely proud of his son Jake, the star of his life. Butch will be remembered by family and friends as someone who was always one of the first to help someone in need. He enjoyed teasing his sisters and tolerated his brother?s cattle feeding operation. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron and supported his community by lending his cooking skills at area events through the years. Butch died Wednesday morning, April 1, 2009, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, after being stricken while doing what he loved most, working on the farm. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 49 years, 9 months and 4 days. Butch was preceded in death by his father, Everett Kluver and two sisters, Karen Irlbeck and his twin, Donna Kluver. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his son, Jacob Kluver of Schleswig, his mother, Phyllis Kluver of Kiron, one brother, Eddie Kluver of Odebolt, two sisters, Bonnie and husband, Bill Harper of Denison and Marcia Pope of Odebolt, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Trish Underberg, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Kiron officiating. Music for the service included two congregation hymns, "How Great Thou Art" and "For the Beauty of The Earth" and two solo selections, "Amazing Grace" and "On Eagles Wings" with Sue Rosener serving as soloist and the Rev. Glenn Rankin serving as organist. Pallbearers included Ryan Kragel, Neil Kragel, Randy Kragel, Darwin Petersen, Brad Waldemar, Russ Hawley, J.R. Pauley and Ricky Barnett. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison, Iowa. Following the interment all were invited to return to the church and join the family for fellowship and a luncheon catered by Hy-Vee in Denison. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.