Alexander “Al” Kloberdanz

Alexander “Al” Kloberdanz, 81, of Charles City, died Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City.

A funeral Mass for Al Kloberdanz will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Reverend Carl Ries will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Cemetery, rural Osage. There will be a flag presentation by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday where the Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. and there will be a Vigil Scriptural Wake Service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday at the church an hour prior to the Mass.

Alexander Frederick Kloberdanz was born June 10, 1927, in Osage, the youngest of 10 children to John and Rose (Lauer) Kloberdanz. He was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage. Al graduated from Osage High School where he was a state champion in wrestling and inducted into the Osage Wrestling Hall of Fame. Following graduation in 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy serving as Quarter Master First Class on a patrol craft escort stationed in Guam. Upon his honorable discharge he attended Brown Radio School in Minneapolis, Minn. and served as an announcer for WHOW in Clinton, Ill. He later graduated in 1952 from the University of Iowa with a Political Science degree. Al met the love of his life, Mary Lou Hove, in Northwood and they were married on May 2, 1953, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City. They began their life together in Austin, Minn. where Al worked at the Austin Loan Company. His insurance career began at the Osterud Insurance Agency in Rochester, Minn. in 1955. In 1957, he purchased his own insurance agency in Lakefield, Minn. Al became the director of the Community Chest at Mason City in 1962. He reentered the insurance business purchasing an agency in Manchester in 1964. In July of 1968, Al and his family settled in Charles City where he purchased several small agencies to establish The Insurance Office, Inc. which has remained a family business for over 40 years. Al and Mary enjoyed bike riding, walking, gardening, attending Hawkeye games, spending time at the family farm, trying their luck at casinos and traveling throughout the world. He especially enjoyed his annual family fishing and hunting trips where he was a founding member and Field Commander of S.A.G.E.

Al is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Kloberdanz of Charles City; five children and their families, Steve Kloberdanz of Marshalltown, Emily and Alex; Brenda (Tom) McGinn of Iowa City, Stephanie and Michael; Bret (SuAnne) Kloberdanz of Charles City, Peter and Adam; Scott (Michelle) Kloberdanz of Johnston, Colby and Alayna; Bob (Amy) Kloberdanz of Charles City, Ellie and Kate; a brother, Johnny (Cassie) Kloberdanz of Osage; two sisters, Katie Arickx and Leona Niddrie both of Osage; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Wenzel, Pete and Joe Kloberdanz; and three sisters, Madge Lechman, Rose Marreel and Peggy Gorrell.

The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.