Curtiss Klepper

Curtiss R. Klepper, 82, of Frankville died Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at his daughter's home in Postville. Funeral services were held Sunday, April 6 at Frankville Presbyterian Church in Frankville, with Rev. Gary Catterson officiating. Burial was at Frankville Cemetery.
Curtiss Richard Klepper was born May 1, 1931 on the Ludlow Township, Allamakee County farm of his parents, Edwin and Ida (Goeke) Klepper. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem United Church of Christ and attended Ludlow #4 rural school. From 1952-1954 Curtiss served in the United States Marine Corps, where he received training in operating heavy equipment.
March 16, 1956 he married Ardis Elaine Ashbacher at Salem United Church of Christ. They moved to Waterloo, where he worked at Rath Packing Plant. They moved back to Frankville in 1963 and Curtiss worked as a heavy machinery operator for Riley and Holland Bros. Road Construction companies. He later drove a maintainer for Winneshiek County before health issues forced his retirement.
Curtiss was a member of the Frankville Fire Department. He enjoyed woodworking and fishing and was an avid reader of anything he could get his hands on. It was common to see Curtiss cruising through Frankville in his golf cart on the way to get his morning coffee, and family gatherings and special events at “Red Neck Corner” were something he always truly enjoyed.
Survivors include his wife, Ardis of Postville; five children, Corinne (Dennis) Cook of Frankville, Kenneth (Vicki Bodley) Klepper of Castalia, Kevin (Becky) Klepper of Sierra Vista, AZ, Karla (Eric) Johnson of Postville and Audrey (Gordy) Winter of West Union; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jean (Leo) Berg of Decorah and Karen Schnuelle of Castalia; a brother, Harlan Klepper of Waterloo; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, George (Belva) Ashbacher of Harpers Ferry, Floyd (Karen) Ashbacher of Decorah, Delores (Roger) Klocke of Waterloo and Frances Ashbacher of Kingman, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Floyd and Mabel Ashbacher; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald Schnuelle, Marilyn Klepper and Phyllis (James) Wilder; and his best friend, Lloyd Snitker.
Honorary casketbearers were Kelly Cook, Toni Pearson, Kenny Pearson, Kendra Cook, Celsey Klepper, Jamie Maussman, Heidi Olemann, Norman Rainy, Vicky Heim, Abby Johnson, Kassy Johnson, Alex Nelson, Brenda Turnis and Curtiss' great-grandchildren. Casketbearers were Brian Snitker, Danny Cook, Kyle Klepper, Mitchel Klepper, Brad Koenig, Doug Koenig, Ronald Upton and Jody Winter.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.