November 3, 1937 - March 28, 2024
James “Jim” Klemm, age 86 of Algona, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2024, at the Algona Manor Care Center in Algona. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 11 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Parish St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wesley. Inurnment will take place at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 12 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Lentz Funeral Home in Algona. Services have been entrusted to Lentz Funeral Home of Algona.
James (Jim) Klemm was the son of German immigrant parents Joseph and Johanna (Dausmann) Klemm. As a small child, his family lived on a farm near Lu Verne where he attended country school. He was in third grade when his family moved to a farm near St. Benedict where he attended classes at the St. Benedict Catholic school. After graduating from St. Benedict he attended Algona High School and graduated with the class of 1955.
After graduation, Jim began farming with his dad and in 1963 took over the farm when his father passed away. In 1960, he joined the Algona Army National Guard 194th Artillery, where he earned the rank of sergeant and was also a section chief. He served with the Guard and was discharged in 1966.
On Aug. 8, 1964, Jim married Patricia Vernia at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in West Bend. They, began their married life on the family farm near St. Benedict. In 1968, they quit milking cows and raising chickens and focused their energy on raising hogs in open lots and confinement barns. In the late 1990’s, and looking forward to early retirement, Jim quit raising hogs and began working for the Algona School System. He found enjoyment working in a position that required only that he arrive at the appointed time, complete the task(s) he was assigned by the custodial department, and go home and relax, leaving his worries behind him.
Jim retired from farming in 2000. He lived in the same home for 77 years and saw himself as the last of the “small farmer” generation. He was the longest resident on the family farm and proud to say he was able to go “broke” slower than other previous residents who had farmed the property since the first settlers came to Irvington Township in the mid to late 1800’s. He said this not to attract pity because, after all, “broke is a temporary situation and poor is a state of mind”.
In late 2000, Pat found employment as a representative for an adaptive clothing company, traveling throughout Iowa and South Dakota. Jim was hired as her chauffeur, paying him the same salary as she earned while working as his hired hand for a good number of years. Both thoroughly enjoyed the experience of driving through the rural areas and cities of the two states and loved visiting with the many people they met along the way as well as seeing many interesting out of the way places not usually visited by tourists.
Jim always had a love for cars. In 2008, he purchased a 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury. He and his son Shawn did an overhaul job on the engine and transmission so he could drive the open road with it. He later joined The Des Moines Plymouth Car Club and became a member in the Mid-Iowa Region National Owners Inc. organization. He enjoyed driving his “Trophy Car” to many car shows in Iowa and collecting a few awards along the way. He attended several National Plymouth Owners Inc. car meets. In 2015, in the St. Louis Mo. national car meet, Jim won the Best 8-Cylinder Award for his car and was one of the two cars featured on the cover of the September-October 2015 issue of the Plymouth Bulletin.
He and his wife, enjoyed watching their children grow up, accepting their challenges as adults, and starting their own families. Jim especially loved mastering the art of teasing his young grandchildren from the comfort of his recliner. Throughout his life, he had a quick sense of humor. He loved to play practical jokes and make his family laugh. Even though he experienced many serious health problems, he seldom complained, enjoying every moment of his life.
Jim is survived by his wife, Pat; his daughters, Mary (Stoney) Harris of Ankeny and Kari (Berton) Leach of Fort Wayne, Ind.; his son, Shawn “Rusty” (Megan) Klemm of Algona; his grandchildren, Autumn Harris, Meagan Leach, Berton J. Leach, Jacob Klemm, Raechel Klemm, Lauren Klemm, Vivian Klemm, and Josephine “Josie” Klemm; and his sisters, Mary Lou Mussa of Appleton, Wis. and Joanne (Glen) Thilges of West Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Johanna Klemm; brother-in-law, Daniel Mussa; and parents-in-law, Darnell and Frances Vernia.