Junior Ervin Kloppenborg

Junior Ervin “Erv” Kloppenborg was born in Glenvil, NE on November 3, 1923 to Henry “Doc” and Grace (Lindeman) Kloppenborg. He was the second of 6 children. He entered into eternal rest with his Creator on November 28, 2017 at the Elwood Care Center in Elwood, Nebraska. The Kloppenborg family moved to a farm Northwest of Emmet, NE when Erv was a small child. He attended elementary school in Emmet, and graduated from the O’Neill High School with the class of 1942. As a child, Erv enjoyed playing baseball, football, and track. At the age of 16, he was in an accident with a rake and horses. It was in this accident that he broke his neck and his left wrist. To heal, he was in continuous traction for 3 months. Erv attended Milford Trade School, learning Auto Body Repair. He has worked at a Service Station in Rawlins, WY, and as a mechanic in Casper, WY, where the owner did a “White Glove” inspection daily. After moving back to Cozad, NE, he worked at F & S Sausage Company, R & R Service Station, and Monroe Auto Equipment Company, where he became the Plant Chemist. Erv married Vera Stuart on November 8, 1946 in the Methodist Parsonage in Atkinson, NE. This union was blessed with six children, Wynona, Merna, Torrey, Neil, Dru Ann, and Buf. Sadly, Dru Ann died very soon after birth. Erv and Vera celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June, 1996, just one week before Vera’s death. On February 14, 2000, Erv married Doris Poesnecker in Doniphan, NE. He became the step-father to her nine children. Doris died in February 2014. Over the years, Ervin has been very involved in the Cozad community. He has served as a Sunday School Teacher at the Cozad United Methodist Church, as well as been a part of the United Methodist Men’s group. He was baseball coach for many years, and at one time, built a baseball pitching machine for people to practice batting. He has also helped the United Methodist Women with the Thrift Shop and Quilt shows. He has been very active in Habitat for Humanities, working on every Habitat home built in Dawson County. He also served as coordinator for the Cozad Food Pantry for 20 years. He also served as PTA President. Ervin was very involved in Scouting for 45 years. He served as a Pack Leader for Cub Scouts and Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 187. We believe he was also the first Scout Master to alter the Boy Scouting program (Troop 190) for young people with disabilities. Erv also received The Silver Beaver Award, the highest honor granted to non-scouts. He also was present to help the Cub Scouts and Webelos in Douglas, WY as they advanced in rank when his grandson was involved in that program. He has received several awards for some of his community activities. Among the awards he has received are the Sunshine Award from 10/11 News in 2006, Cozad Citizen of the Year in 2006, and Community Service Award in 2001. For relaxation, Erv could be found doing building projects, remodeling homes, gardening, fishing, hunting, or participating in or attending activities with his children, step-children, and grandchildren. He has instilled wonderful hunting values in his children and grandchildren and enjoyed many hunting adventures with his sons-in-law. He also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and European countries. His creativity was demonstrated through doing some interesting things, like having an upside-down Christmas tree one year, and another year the Christmas tree was through the roof of the porch on the house, or building giant snowmen. He was also welcoming to the stranger into the home, when he welcomed several families into the home during a blizzard, and when he was a Foster Parent. Ervin moved to Park Avenue Estates in Lexington in April, 2015, and then to Elwood Care Center in December 2015, after fracturing his hip. Erv is preceded in death by his wives, Vera and Doris, daughter Dru Ann, Sister Lavina and husband George Pierson, Brothers: Ernie, Alvin and Don Kloppenborg, brother-in-law Norman Wayman, son-in-law Paul Refior, daughter-in-law Susie Kloppenborg and granddaughter, Mackenzie Latimer; brother and sister in-laws Dick Veda, Velma Knapp, Jack and Margaret Stuart, Roger and Varneal Schmidt and Mildred and Jack King. He leaves to treasure his memory his children, Wynona and husband Wendell Lawhead of Cozad, Merna Carver of Baggs, Wyoming, Torrey Kloppenborg of Cozad, Neil Kloppenborg of Eustis, and Buf and Sally Kloppenborg of Farnam; Sister Ruby Wayman of O’Neill, NE; Sisters-in-laws Helen Kloppenborg and Toby Kloppenborg of O’Neill, Jackie Kloppenborg of Emmet, Nebraska; 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; daughter-in-laws Nancy Kloppenborg and Nytasha Bryson; brother and sister in-law Cot and Euvah Stuart; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. His presence will be missed by one and all who knew him. Memorials are suggested to Paws4Vets or Boy Scout Troop 189. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Services will be Monday, December 4, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the American Lutheran Church with Kathy Gundell, PMA officiating. Burial will follow at the Cozad Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Sunday from 5 to 7 at Berryman Funeral Home.