Harlan Kloppenborg

Harlan Kloppenborg, age 89 of State Center, passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, with a Vigil Service starting at 4:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, September 9, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in State Center. Burial will be in Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Haverhill.

Harlan Michael Kloppenborg was born on September 28, 1934, in State Center, IA, the son of John Harlan and Clara Celestia (Guckert) Kloppenborg. He had one older sister, Marjorie and two younger brothers, Gerald and Dennis. He grew up on a farm south of State Center, and attended school in Rhodes. This is where his love of farming began, working side by side with his dad.

After completing high school, he worked at Fisher Governor and John Deere in Ankeny, where he learned machine skills until he signed up for the US Army for two years. After basic training, from 1954 to 1956 he served in the 483 AAA Missile Battalion in New Jersey. During that time, he held leadership positions. After returning home from serving in the military, he began his life long career in farming – raising corn and soybeans. He enjoyed cattle trips to Montana to buy feeder cattle which he fed for many years.

On June 5, 1965, he married Jeanette Ruth Stalzer of Haverhill, IA in the Immaculate Conception Church in Haverhill. He built a new home northeast of State Center, where he farmed and raised cattle, and his wife continued to teach school in Marshalltown.

Harlan belonged to the St. Joseph Catholic Church in State Center since childhood and served as director for 20 years. During that time, a new rectory was built and he became instrumental in getting the new rectory and church built in 1997. Two properties were purchased and donated to the church by Harlan and Jeanette that were used for the new church and parking lot. He helped with the manual labor of tearing down the old rectory and church and pouring the concrete for the much-needed parking lot. He used much of his own equipment and his wife’s nephews help removing trees and cleaning up after removal of the houses. Later when the St. Joseph Cemetery inherited money from Inez Mueller to pave the streets of the cemetery, his wife and him donated two acres of ground so there would be room for cars at a funeral without going on neighbor’s property. He removed the trees, repaired the tombstones, and helped with building up soil and seeding around the concrete.

Harlan belonged to the Knights of Columbus and served as Faithful Navigator for the Fourth Degree. He served on the Honor Guard for funerals. He hosted the Knights at the church in State Center. He also belonged to the Rhodes American Legion Post #456 and had served as commander since 1997. He organized putting flags and taking them down for Memorial Day along with the services at Rhodes Cemeteries, St. Joseph, Eden and Veteran’s Memorial Park, where he organized the purchase and installation of the veteran memorial.

In 2008, Lincoln Valley Golf Course was in financial trouble and the course would close permanently. Harlan and his wife bought the 132 acres and got it functional again after everything needed fixed. The parking lot was paved, Bob, Dick, Dale, Brian, Matt, Ross and Brett Stalzer helped pour concrete on the cart paths, 50 new carts and mowers were purchased, a new Morton building was built to store the carts, and bridges were fixed. LVG was gifted to the City of State Center and Harlan continued to serve on the Board of Directors.

From 1980 to 1985, Harlan owned and operated the Wood Duck Lodge along with his farming, his wife teaching and they tried out farming in Paris, TX for two years. As his farm operation kept growing, he purchased farms in State Center, Lamoille, Melbourne, Rhodes, Van Cleve and later Haverhill. He farmed with the help of his brother, Dennis, until age made it impossible to do anymore. Harlan started to have his wife’s nephews do more of the work and take over the operation.

Harlan was presented “The Good Neighbor Award” by WHO Radio - He enjoyed pouring concrete driveways for family and friends at no charge, he cleaned up many building sites, and made improvements on waterways and many farms. He hosted the production of the movie “Rain” on his farmstead. He also hosted field trips for students from Marshalltown and West Marshall Schools.

Harlan and his wife, Jeanette, were Grand Marshalls for the Rose Festival Parade in State Center, which they loved attending. He enjoyed travel with family and friends and getting together with them. He also enjoyed running his equipment – excavator, bulldozer and backhoe.

Harlan was preceded in death by his grandparents: Albert and Agnes Westerbeck, John and Rosina Kloppenborg, Mike and Agnes Guckert, Steve and Emma Nason; his parents: J. Harlan and Clara Kloppenborg; his brother, Gerald; and his brother-in-law, Warren Buck.

Left to cherish Harlan’s memory is his wife, Jeanette of State Center; his sister, Marjorie Buck of Chariton; brother, Dennis (Vicky) Kloppenborg; nephew, Martin Buck; nieces, Cathy Marker, Peggy (Bruce) Williams, Lori Buck, Calie Van Zwol, Torie Kloppenborg; along with great-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Family of Harlan for later donation.

Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted to care for Harlan and his family. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234.

~ Lovingly Written by Family