Richard G. Kloos

RICHARD G. KLOOS

1933  ~  2021

A man of faith and service, Richard was a music educator, choral director, church musician, dedicated volunteer, veteran, and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Richard and his twin brother, Robert, were born July 1, 1933 in Roseville Township, Grant County, MN to Prettyman (Britt) Howard and Valborg Fjoslien Kloos.

Richard and Robert (Dick and Dan) were baptized August 27, 1933 in Elbow Lake and confirmed on November 2, 1949 at Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, Donnelly.  The Kloos siblings – Charles, Joan, Margret, Dick, Dan and Louise – received their early education at Grant County District 16 and then attended Hoffman High School.  Following graduation in 1951, Dick and Dan operated the family farm until Dick was drafted into the Army in June 1957.  He spent 18 months in Germany that provided an opportunity to travel to many places in Europe, visiting the ancestral home of the Kloos family in Germany and numerous Fjoslien and Mogan relatives in Norway.  He returned to the family farm in June 1959.

In September 1960 Richard enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Morris and was proud to be a member of the first graduating class in 1964, earning a B.A. degree. In 1970 he earned a M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota.

Richard and Kathleen Stock married on September 3, 1961 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Donnelly.  They lived in Morris until the summer of 1964 when they moved to Crosby-Ironton.  Sons Bret and Eric were born during the C-I years. In June 1968 the young family moved to Robbinsdale where daughter Kari later joined the family.

Richard’s career as a music teacher and choral director began at Crosby-Ironton Public Schools in 1964, continuing at Robbinsdale Area Schools (Robbinsdale and Sandberg Junior Highs, Cooper High School, Noble Elementary) until his retirement in 1993.  As a church musician for 50 years, he served as organist, choir and handbell director and choir member.

In retirement he was an active volunteer in Story Theatre (1994-2013), served as Senior Vice Commodore of the Minneapolis Aquatennial in 2000; directing the Senior Alumni Singers of that organization from 2004 until 2012.  He sang with Exultate and was a member of the North Suburban Chorus. In his later years at Lyngblomsten Care Center, he played music for the residents and staff.

Richard completed his baptismal journey in the early hours of December 16, 2021 at the age of 88 years.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Kathleen; daughter Kari Kloos; sons and daughters-in-law Bret Kloos and Suzanne Swan, Eric Kloos and Maria Wolff; grandchildren Sarah and Bee Swan-Kloos, Leo and Greta Kloos; sisters Margret Lydell and Louise Comfort; sisters-in-law LaVonne Kloos and Barbara Stock; brother-in-law Wayne Stock; godchildren Mary Erickson, Jane Maxwell, Kay Fiero, CB Kloos, Robert Kloos, Emma Zabel, and Julie Anderson; nieces, nephews, and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; twin brother Robert; siblings and spouses Charles and Arlis, Joan and David Lofgren; in-laws Carl and Hazel Stock, brothers-in-law William Lydell and Merlyn Stock; niece Kathryn Stock Banner and godson Danny Anderson.

Remembrances in Richard’s memory will be given to Lyngblomsten Care Center (St. Paul), Struthers Parkinson’s Center Program Fund (Golden Valley) and Central Lutheran Church (Minneapolis).

Thanks to the Stanford staff at Lynblomsten for their wonderful  care.

A Memorial Service will be held at Central Lutheran Church (333 South 12th Street-Mpls) Saturday, March 12 at 11 am; with a reception following the service. Visitation at Gearty-Delmore (Robbinsdale) on Friday, March 11 from 3:30 to 6:00 pm and 10 am Saturday at the church. The service will be live streamed at https://www.centralmpls.org.