Charles "Charlie" Klaassen

Sibley, IA

     Charles “Charlie” Klaassen age 79 of Sibley, Iowa died Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the Osceola Regional Health Center in Sibley, IA.

     A funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 14^th at First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, IA, with Pastor Maggie Gisch officiating. Interment will follow at Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley, IA.

     Visitation will be Monday, January 13^th from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Sibley.

     Charles Fredrick Klaassen was born July 19, 1940 in rural Osceola County, Iowa, the son of Andrew and Ellen (Dreher) Klaassen. He was raised by Ellsworth, MN and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1958.

     Charles was united in marriage to Kathryn Jean Broesder on June 2, 1961 in Little Rock, IA at the First Presbyterian Church. Together they made their home in Sibley, IA, living in town until purchasing an acreage northeast of town in 1975. In 2001 Kathryn moved to town. Charles never really moved, he couldn’t give up the farm. Charles and Kathryn were blessed with 6 children.

     While living at home in Ellsworth, Charles worked at Wagner Produce, Rolfs Construction putting up bins all over, and Pribe’s and Sons. When living in Sibley he worked at Sibley Concrete, driving the boom truck is what he enjoyed. When out with family he would say I delivered pipe there, at EVERY place he delivered to. Throughout his life Charlie enjoyed putting in countless hours on his scrap iron business, loading his trailer full and hauling into Shine’s. Charles was an avid toy collector, having a room in the basement packed full of all his toys, from Farmall tractors, pedal tractors and Tonka Toys.

     On December 27, 2019 Charlie entered the Osceola Regional Health Center with complications of diabetes, congestive heart failure and MRSA. He died this past Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the age of 79.

     He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kathryn Klaassen of Sibley, IA; Six children, Charlotte Klaassen of Rock Valley, IA, Lori (Allen) Reck, Scott (Michele) Klaassen, both of Sibley, IA, Karri (Jay) Anderson of Spirit Lake, IA, Sharri (Rob) Stanton and Brian (Angie) Klaassen, both of Sibley, IA; nine grandchildren, Ashlee Reck, Tyler (McKenzie) Reck, Joseph (Alexis) Klaassen, Morgan (Brady) Spykerboer, Hannah Brumley (Jordan Huntington), Cole Brumley, Shelby Stanton (Marshall Eddy), Gavin Stanton, Brady Klaassen; five great-grandchildren, Matthew Klaassen, Abigail Klaassen, McKenna Spykerboer, Madison Spykerboer and Bexley Reck; a brother-in-law, Mike Hinrichs of Ellsworth, MN; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Ellen Klaassen, a sister, Diann Hinrichs, a brother, Gary Klaassen, a sister-in-law, Barb Klaassen; and three brothers-in-law, Martin DeBerg, Ray Dirks and Marlyn Luitjens.