Earl "Bud" Klassen

Earl “Bud” Klassen, 84, of Kimball, died at Ft. Collins Health Center in Ft. Collins, Colo. on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Robert Karnish officiating. Cremation will be held and burial will be at a later date.

A Christian wake service was held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Cantrell Funeral Home. Friends were able to call at the funeral home from 1-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Friends may visit http://www.canrellfh.com to view Bud’s tribute wall and leave condolences for the family. Memorials have been established to Kimball Eagles Roof Fund or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The services for Bud have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.

Earl Bernard Klassen Jr. was born in Boone County on July 24, 1931, the son of Earl and Nina (Watts) Klassen. He attended school at country schools in Boone County. When he finished school he worked with his father on the family farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served his country during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1953. He was married to Lois Kramer on Nov. 18, 1953 in South Dakota. They farmed in Boone County until 1962. Bud and Lois lived in several places in Nebraska and Colorado with their family. They moved to Minden in 1980 and Bud worked for the Farmers Co-op and Grain in Minden. He retired in 2004 and they moved to Kimball to be closer to family.

He was an active member of the Kimball VFW, Eagles and the American Legion Club in Silver Creek. Bud was also a member of the Bushnell Lions Club. He always gave his time and talent to these and many other organizations. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and watching Husker Football. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Bud knew no strangers and would strike up a conversation with anyone.

Survivors include his wife, Lois Klassen of Kimball; children, Tim (Jean) Klassen of Kimball, Cindy (Fred) Miller of Wellington, Colo., Tom (Jane) Klassen of Dublin, Ga., Roger (Connie) Klassen of Hawley, Texas, and Gary (Karee) Klassen of Deer Trail, Colo .; brothers, Don (Mae) Klassen of Silver Creek, Colo., and Dick (Sue) Klassen of Mason City, Ill .; sisters, Bernie McIntosh of St. Edward and Sharon (Jerome) Beenders of Mason City, Ill .; 16 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ramona Livingston.