Thomas Klennert

The funeral service for Thomas “Tom” Klennert was Friday, Jan. 8, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, corner of 18th Avenue and 55th Street NW in Rochester, with Chaplin Thom Nustad officiating.  Burial was in the Zumbro Falls Cemetery in Zumbro Falls.
    Mr. Klennert, 88, of rural Zumbro Falls, passed away Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
    Thomas Leo Klennert was born on Aug. 19, 1927 on the home place in Gillford Township, Wabasha County, to Francis and Regina (Laqua) Klennert.  He attended rural Gillford Township schools.  On Aug. 19, 1949 he married Nancy L. Irwin at the Methodist Church in Lake City.  They purchased the farm near Zumbro Falls in April 1953, where they camped out, planted a garden and made the house fit to live in and lived there all their married life.
    Tom started working for the Theisen Brothers in 1947 as a mechanic, and also worked for many other area farmers doing custom feed grinding and mechanical work. He also did welding for Quarve and Anderson, and hauled milk for the Henn Brothers.  Tom and Nancy started Tom’s Repair in December 1954 on the home farm.  His specialty was welding cylinder heads.  They also farmed the 80 acres on their home farm.  They purchased a farm near Theilman in 1964 where he farmed and raised beef, specializing in longhorn cattle.  Tom served as Hyde Park Township supervisor for 16 years, and was also a member of NFO.  Tom and Nancy liked to Polka dance and spent many weekends going dancing at the PlaMor Ballroom, Chatfield, Hill City, Wis. or Mantorville.
    Tom is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Nancy of Zumbro Falls; three sons, Frank (Sharleen) Klennert of Theilman, Jim (Ellen) Klennert of Lake City, and Robert (Joyce) Klennert of Zumbro Falls; two daughters, Candace Susan “Susie” (Jerry) Pickett of West Albany, and Pattie (Pete) Trout of Oronoco; nine grandsons, and eight granddaughters; 12 great-grandsons and 10 great-granddaughters, one great-great grandson; and one sister, Therese Joslin of Rochester.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, John and Mike, and one granddaughter, Lisa.
    Friends and family may visit from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home in Rochester and one hour prior to the service on Friday at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home.
    Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel, Lake City.  Guest register may be signed online at www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com