Julius
"J.R." Kleinwachter, 83Strandquist - Julius "J.R." Kleinwachter died Sunday, June 7, 1998 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 11 at 2:30 p.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Karlstad with Father Bob Schreiner officiating. Corriene Jacobson will be the organist, and the song leader will be Jeanne Novacek. Mitch Walski will be the pianist. Members of the American Legion Posts of Strandquist will serve as casketbearers and provide military honors. Burial will be in St. Edward's Catholic Cemetery in Lincoln township of Marshall county.
Visitation will be held today (Wednesday, June 10) from 4 to 8 p.m. with a wake service at 7 p.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Karlstad and for one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls is in charge of the arrangements.
Julius Rossler Kleinwachter was born on March 8, 1915 to Emil and Marie (Rossler) Kleinwachter at rural Strandquist. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended Oakdale School west of Strandquist. Julius worked on the family farm with his brothers.
In 1934, he enlisted and served at the CCC Camp near Ely. In January of 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima during World War II. He worked in combat communications and attained the rank of corporal. He was in the Fourth Marine Division "G" Battery of the Third Regiment. Julius was honorably discharged in November of 1945.
He returned home after his discharge, and on June 21, 1949 he was united in marriage to Antoinette Stancyk at St. John's Church in Alma. The couple farmed and raised their family in Nelson Park township of Marshall county. In 1981 they sold the farm to their son, Ben, and moved to a home adjacent to the family farm where they have since resided.
Julius enjoyed farming, serving his local government and attending Marine Corps reunions. He served as a county commissioner and was on the elevator board, mental health board, ambulance board, FHA and AAA boards, Oakdale and Strandquist school boards and Nelson Park township board. He held almost every office at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Karlstad.
Julius is survived by his wife, Toni; three sons, Father John Kleinwachter of Ackley, Paul (Shirley) Kleinwachter of Big Lake and Ben (LuJean) Kleinwachter of Strandquist; two daughters, Patricia (Wayne) Larson and Betty (Terry) Pietruszewski, both of Strandquist; 13 grandchildren; one brother, Art of Strandquist; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and eight brothers and sisters, Louie, Tony, Adolph, Emma, Anna, Sophie, Kathryn and Frank.