Obituary of Larry Dean Klatt

    Larry Dean Klatt was born November 27, 1937, near Melvin, IA, 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 eleven brothers and sisters. He received his education through the local country school system, attending both Baker and Harrison Township schools, completing the 8^th 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.

    On October 20, 1962, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley became the setting for the marriage of Larry and Lois M. Nagel. 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, located in Hartley, and continued there when it became Miller Implement. When Millers closed their doors in 1985, he was employed at the John Deere Implement in Spencer, IA 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 HMS in Hartley, keeping the school in good shape for the next six and a half years. He also had a passion for helping people, so 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.

   On Friday, January 5, 2024, Larry passed from this life 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, IA; daughters: Lorie (Shawn) Hubbard of Omaha, NE, and Linette Klatt of Boise, ID; one grandson, Jacob Hubbard of Omaha, NE; sisters: Betty (Richard) Scmidt, and Ellen Ackerman both of Spencer, IA, Kathryn Karlsen of Melvin, IA; other relatives and friends.