John A. Kloster

John A. Kloster, 64, Marengo, passed away Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral service will be held at 10:30  a.m. today (Wednesday), Sept. 14, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Walford, with Rev. Travis Borkosky officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery. In lieu of flowers or “cement,” please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.
John Arthur Kloster was born July 9, 1952 in Forest City, the son of Arthur and Thelma Fjelstad Kloster. He graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1970, and attended Upper Iowa College in Fayette, graduating from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in 1974. He served his apprenticeship with Giles-Elliott Funeral Home in Fort Madison and Burlington.
John married Elizabeth L. Klenske on April 30, 1977, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Waukon. He was employed at several eastern Iowa funeral homes, lastly purchasing Hoover-Valentine Funeral Home in Marengo in 1993. His son, TJ, joined him in 2007, and in 2008, John purchased Nevenhoven Funeral Home in Brooklyn. He and TJ have run both locations since.
John was a past member of Kiwanis and the Marengo Hospital Board. He presently served on the Marengo Housing Board, the Marengo Cemetery Board and was a member of the Masonic Lodges #174, #46 and #10. He is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association and was District 2 Governor.
John was fully devoted to his profession and serving the families of the area during their time of need. He did find time to escape on his motorcycle, trike, or on his latest toy “the Slingshot,” with a destination of “Valhalla” in Sunrise Beach, Mo.
John is survived by his wife, Beth; son, Thomas “TJ” (Amber Parizek), Marengo; daughter, Angela (Emmanuel) Garza, San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren: Zion, Landyn, and Larkin; sister, LaBonnie Temple, Zanesville, Ohio; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Jeffrey Kloster, in January 2016.