Larry D. Klatt, 86, Hartley

A funeral service for Larry D. Klatt was held Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley. Pastor Chris Nitzel officiated.

Pallbearers were John Klatt, Jr., Darry Klatt, Don Brigham, Dwight Jacobs, Paul Yock, Jr. and Jacob Hubbard. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Larry Dean Klatt was born Nov. 27, 1937 near Melvin, the son of Otto, Sr. and Pearl (Wells) Klatt. He was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran church in Melvin and grew up on the family farm along with his 11 brothers and sisters. He received his education through the local country school system, attending both Baker and Harrison Township schools, completing the eighth grade.

Being third from the youngest, Larry began helping his dad on the farm at an early age as his older siblings had already gone from home. While using horsepower for everything – from threshing oats to check-wire planting – may have been a lot of work, it left Larry with a love for agriculture that would stay with him the rest of his life.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley became the setting for the marriage of Larry and Lois M. Nagel on Oct. 20, 1962. They began their new life in Hartley, raised two daughters there and called it “home” ever since. This past October marked 61 years of sharing their lives together.

Larry farmed with his dad until 1963. In 1965, he began working for Ruby Implement in Hartley and continued there when it became Miller Implement. When Miller’s closed their doors in 1985, he was employed at the John Deere Implement in Spencer until his retirement in 2000. Throughout his mechanics career, Larry had torn apart and overhauled all sorts of farm equipment, but became especially adept with balers, planters and combines. In 1990, he logged in his “longest service call” – flying to Central America to help set up four combines that had been shipped to Honduras.

After 35 years of tightening belts, oiling chains and figuring out what makes a machine tick, Larry was qualified to fix just about anything and he did. In 2001, he took on the custodial position at H-M-S in Hartley, keeping the school in good shape for the next 6-1/2 years. He also had a passion for helping people so he often found himself repairing appliances and farm equipment or doing plumbing and electrical work. Giving back to the community, he had volunteered as a Boy Scout leader and served on the Katrina cleanup effort with others from his church.

When he wasn’t in the middle of a project, camping was a favorite family event when the girls were small. Lots of good memories were made setting up the tent or sitting around a campfire. In later years he and Lois enjoyed traveling together, visiting all 50 states as well as Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and taking in seven cruises. Yet nothing brought him more pleasure than just driving around the local country roads or playing cards and having coffee with friends in Hartley.

Larry passed from this life on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, at the age of 86 years. Preceding him were his parents, Otto and Pearl Klatt; siblings and spouses: Merna (Earl) Jacobs, Lola (Paul, Sr.) Yock, James (Elsa) Klatt, John (Gwen) Klatt, William (Vernice) Klatt, Thomas Klatt, Ann Klatt (in infancy) and Otto, Jr. “Butch” Klatt.

He is survived by his wife, Lois, of Hartley; daughters: Lorie (Shawn) Hubbard, of Omaha, Neb., and Linette Klatt, of Boise, Idaho; one grandson, Jacob Hubbard, of Omaha, Neb.; sisters: Betty (Richard) Schmidt and Ellen Ackerman, both of Spencer; and Kathryn Karlsen, of Melvin; other relatives and friends.