Albert R. Klawuhn Sr.
Albert R. Klawuhn, Sr., 83, of St. Joseph, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at a local hospital.
Mr. Klawuhn was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 61 years, Mary R. Klawuhn, and an active and involved father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Mr. Klawuhn was born on December 23, 1926 in Elwood, Ks. to Jessie F. and Albert O. Klawuhn, who predeceased him. He attended the Doniphan County Public Schools in Elwood and started working before completing high school. He later attained his G.E.D. degree and studied mechanical drafting.
He worked for the same company his entire career of 49 years originally starting with Swift & Co. in South St. Joseph in 1943 in the production department, moving to production incentive and then to mechanical supervisor.
He managed the liquidation of the Swift plant and was the last employee of the plant after it closed in the 1970’s. He then moved to Swift Adhesives & Coatings, also in South St. Joseph, and held practically every job in the plant before becoming the plant manager in 1976. He designed several pieces of equipment and processes that increased production at the plant that had approximately 40 employees. He retired from Swift Adhesives, that was then a division of Reichhold Chemicals, Inc., in 1992.
Mr. Klawuhn served for three years in the United States Marine Corps. and Marine Corps. Reserves during the Korean Conflict.
He was always very active in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He managed several boys baseball teams in the Kiwanis league, was Scoutmaster of Troop 26 of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and was active in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.
He was a Knight of the Fourth Degree, Council 571 of the Knights of Columbus and served on many occasions as a pall bearer with the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of American Legion Post 359. He loved to play golf and spent many days on the golf course with his friends and family during his retirement.
Mr. Klawuhn married Mary Rose Przybylski on February 26, 1949 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in St. Joseph. They celebrated their 50th and 60th Wedding Anniversaries as members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. She survives of the home.
Also surviving are his children: Theresa M. Stanton and her husband, Ralph A. Stanton, of Savannah, Mo.; Albert R. Klawuhn, Jr. and his wife, Cynda A. Rader, of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and Philip A. Klawuhn of Kansas City, Mo.
Mr. Klawuhn is also survived by his sister, Geniveve Cook, of St. Joseph and his brother, Jim Klawuhn, Rushville, Mo. He was predeceased by his sister, Betty Riggs, of St. Joseph, and daughter-in-law, Nancy Rost Klawuhn, Parkville, Mo.
There are five grandchildren: Kelly Morris and Andrea Stanton and Kevin, Monica and Clare Klawuhn; three step grandchildren: Katrina, Brandon and Ryan Rader; and two great- grandchildren, Andrew Morris and Jack Rader.
To his family, Albert R. Klawuhn was always “Dad” or “Grandpa.” He was truly a fine man whose integrity, kindness and consistency all through his life made him a great husband and father. His 83 years were in many ways a miracle. He was one of the early recipients of heart bypass surgery in 1975. With Mom’s prodding and taking good care of himself, he went for another 28 years without having a problem from it. While Alzheimer’s took its toll in his later years, Mom’s devoted care enabled him to carry on for many more years from that as well.
Even though the Alzheimer’s diminished his memory, it could not diminish the qualities that were at his core. His family is so blessed and thankful to have had him as a husband and father, and he will be dearly missed.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 11 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 4503 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, Mo. Visitation begins at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, January 10 and the family will receive friends 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel, 3609 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, Mo. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, January 10 at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, St. Joseph, Mo.