Obituaries
MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING
CLARENCE KLASS
Owen County Democrat July 22, 1915
Submitted by Layne Powell
Clarence Klass Struck by Bolt - Horse Killed Other Casaulties
Clarence Klass, twenty one years old, son of Klamans Klass, living two and one-half miles east of Coal City, was struck by lightning and instantly killed Thursday evening about five o'clock. He and his brother had gone after the cows and when the storm came up they took shelter in an orchard. The lightning struck him in the breast, ran down his body and buried itself in the ground. The brother, who was standing near, was only slightly injured. Mr. Klass was a young man well known in the county and his untimely death is sadly deplored by his friends. Boyd Williams, who lives on the farm of County Treasurer H. B. Williams, near Farmers, had a caluable register Clydesdale colt, five months old, killed by lightning Thursday. The colt and its dam were standing under a tree at the time but the lightning did not injure the dam. The colt weighed more than 700 pounds and was valued at $500. While taking shelter at the home of Frank Marshall, neat McCormick's creek, three miles southeast of Spencer, Sunday afternoon, William Britton and Thomps Parrish were slightly hurt by lightning which struck the lightning rod on the corner of the house and ran down to the proch where they were standing. Mr. Britton's face was slightly burned and Mr. Parrish had been suffering from a severe headache since. No damage was done to the building. Lightning struck the barn on the farm of Henry L. Freking, five miles northwest of Spencer on the Patricksburg pike, Sunday afternoon and tore off one corner of the structure. Mr. Freking was thinking of moving the barn to another location, but by a different method from which lightning usually does things. Lightning struck a steel buckle on the shoe of Miss Sadie Underwood at Worthington last Thursday and knocked the buckle acrossed the room. Miss Underwood was unhurt.
EARL T. KLASS
Owen County Leader ? June 29, 1978
Submitted by Layne Powell
Earl T. Klass, 72, a lifetime resident of Coal City, died Monday morning, June 26, in the Clay County Hospital at Brazil. He had been admitted to the hospital Thursday, June 22.Mr. Klass was a retired farmer and after his retirement he had been employed at McCormick's Creek State Park.He was a member of the Steubenville Lutheran Church.Born in Owen County, near Coal City, he was son of Klamans Klass and Clara Hochstetler Klass.His wife, Rilla Love Klass whom he married April 14, 1971 survives.Other survivors are his sons, Donald Lee Klass, route 2, Spencer, and Clovis Dean Klass of Clay City, and his stepson, James B. Pace of Chicago; sister Rilla Reynolds of Coal City; seven grandchildren and one great grandson.Lucy Klass, his first wife, preceeded him in death April 27, 1967. Four brother and three sisters also preceded him in death.Funeral services will be today, Thurday, at 1:30 p.m. at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home in Clay City.The Rev. Lew Mileczjack, pastor of the Steubenville Lutheran Church will officiate.Interment will be int Fiscus Cemetery, southeast of Coal City.
DIES THURSDAY AT TERRE HAUTE
ESTAL C. KLASS
Owen County Leader November 27, 1969
Submitted by Layne Powell
Estal C. Klass, 69, long time resident of R. 1 Coal City died Thursday, November 20 at the Meadows Manor Nursing Home in Terre Haute.He was born in Owen County August 30, 1900 the son of Clara Hochstetler and Klemant Klass.He had been failing in health since June 28 of this year, a patient in Meadows Manor Nursing Home since August 12, and had been seriously ill the past week.Mr. Klass was a member of the Steubenville Lutheran Church southwest of Patricksburg.He is survived by his wife, Ruth Anna Klass; two daughters, Mrs. Thelma Burger, R. 1 Coal City and Mrs Lee Alla Grafe of Clay City; four sisters, Mrs. Christina Fulk, Coal City, Mrs. Lourilla Reynolds of Coal City, Mrs. Lillie Halderan of Worthington and Mrs. Atha Stantz of Binghamton, New York; three brother, John and Luther both of r. 2 Coal City and Earl of Coal City; and three grandchildren.Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home in Clay City. Rev. Earling Aaserud, pastor of the Steubenville Lutheran Church was the officiating minister.Interment was in the Fiscus Cemetery southeast of Coal City.
RITES SATURDAY AT CLAY CITY
JOHN W. KLASS
Unknown Newspaper August 6, 1970
Submitted by Layne Powell
John W. Klass, retired miner and farmer who lived on R. R. 2, Coal City, died suddenly at his home at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 29. He was 84 years old. He had been ill the past two months.Mr. Klass retired as an employee of the Maumee Colliery Company in 1945.He was born in Owen County April 3, 1886, the son of Klamans Klass and Clara Hochstetler Klass.Mr. Klass was a member of the Jefferson Baptist Church in Coal City.He is survived by his widow, Susie Leohr Klass, two daughters, Mrs. Parker (Dorothy) Shouse of Coal City, and Mrs. Fred (Bessie) VanDeventer of Beech Grove; one son, Herman Klass, R. R. 2, Coal City; two brothers, Earl Klass of Coal City, and Luther Klass, R. R. 1, Coal City; four sisters, Atha Stantz of New York, Lourilla Reynolds of Coal City, Christine Fulk of Coal City, and Lillie Halderman of Worthington; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.Funeral services were conducted at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home in Clay City at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Ted Miller was the officiating minister.Interment was in the Fiscus Cemetery, southeast of Coal City.
KLAMANS KLASS
Coal City News January 18, 1929
Submitted by Layne Powell
Klamans Klass was born in Germany, Feb 15, 1848. He came with his parents to America in 1853, locating at Coshcoton, O. In 1867 the family came to Indiana, establishing a home in the place where Mr. Klass lived for 62 years until Tuesday morning when he departed at the age of 80 years, 10 months, and 23 days. He was united in marriage to Clara Elizabeth Hochstetler, April 12, 1881. To this union were born eighteen children, ten of whom with their mother, preceeding the father into eternity. Those living are: Christina Mrs. Chas. R Fulk, Lillie, Mrs Joe Halderman, Atha Alice, Mrs. Jesse Stantz, John William, Luther Klamans, Earl Cecil, Edith Lourilla and Earl Theodore. Besides these eight children he also leaves 18 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and two sisters: Eliza Dunigan, 78; and Christina Shelburn, 74. For many years he was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran church of Steubenville. It was only my priviledge to know Mr. Klass about two years. During this time his health was rapidly failing. But as long as he was able he was usually in his place at church.
FUNERAL SERVICES SUNDAY
MRS LUCY KLASS, 57 DIES
Owen County Leader May 4, 1967
Submitted by Layne Powell
Mrs. Lucy Klass, 57 years old, wife of Earl T. Klass, Coal City, R.R.1, died suddenly at six o'clock Thurseday evening at her residence. She had been in failing health for the past two years, suffering with heart complications.She was born August 20, 1910 at Linton a daughter of Ira Boriff and Isa Strauser Boriff. She had resided in the Coal City Community for the past twenty-three years. Mrs. Klass was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ, northeast of Clay City.Survivors include the husband, Earl T. Klass; the step-mother, Mrs. Ethel Boriff of Worthington; two sons, Donald Lee Klass of Spencer and Clovis Dean Klass of Freedom. Also two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Taylor of Linton and Mrs. Millie Laymon of Lyons; one brother, Alvin Boriff of Linton; one half-sister, Doris Green of Greenwood and four step-brothers, Walter, Herman and Levi Bredeweg of Worthington and Roy Bredeweg of Linton. She also leaves two grandchildren.Funeral rites were held Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home, Clay City, Rev. Karl Kirkman, pastor of the St. Peter's United Church of Christ, officiating. Interment was made in the Fiscus Cemetery, east of Coal City.
LUTHER KLASS
Unknown Newspaper May 19, 1977
Submitted by Layne Powell
Luther K. Klass, 84, R.R. 2, Coal City, died Friday evening, May 13, following a year of serious illness. He had been in failing health two years before that.Mr. Klass was a retired farmer and member of the Community Lutheran Church near Patricksburg.He was born August 1, 1892 at Coal City, Jefferson Township, Owen County. His parents were Klamans Klass and Clara Hochstetler Klass.Survivors are his widow, Dora M. Klass whom he married October 21, 1916; daughters, Mrs. Clarence (Gladys) Willen, R. R. 2, Coal City, Mrs. Dr. O. L. (Florence) Huey of Maysville, Ohio, son, Cleotis Klass, R. R. 2, Coal City; sister Lourilla Reynolds, R. R. 1, Coal City; brother, Earl Klass of Coal City; six grandchildren and eight great grandchilren.Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home in Clay City. The Rev. Ted Miller, pastor of the Jefferson Baptist Church in Coal City, was the officiating minister.Interment was in the Fiscus Cemetery at Coal City.
SERVICES FOR SUSAN KLASS TODAY
SUSAN KLASS
Unknown Newspaper September 27, 1973
Submitted by Layne Powell
Funeral services for Mrs. Susan E. Klass, 82, of Coal City will be today, Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Schoppenhorst Funeral Home in Clay City. The Rev. Ted Miller, pastor of the Jefferson Baptist Church of Coal City will be the officiating minister.Interment will be in the Fiscus Cemetery, southeast of Coal City.Mrs. Klass died at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 25, at the Glenburn Rest Haven Nursing Home in Linton. She had been in failing health the last three years and had been a patient in the nursing home since 1971.Her husband, John W. Klass preceded he in death July 29, 1970.Mrs. Klass was a member of the Jefferson Baptist Church.She is survived by her daughters, Mrs. Parker (Dorothy) Shouse of Coal City, and Mrs. Fred (Bessie) VanDeventer of Indianapolisl; her son, Herman Klass of Worthington; brothers, Jesse Leohr, Clay City, R.R. 2 and Henry Leohr, Coal City, R.R. 2; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.Mrs. Klass was born November 14, 1890 in Owen County, the daughter of George Leohr and Margaret Miller Leohr.