Norman D. Klaassen age 80 of Sibley, IA died Thursday, November 27, 2014 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30th at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA. Private family burial will be prior to the service at Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock.
Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 29th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., with family present at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley, IA.
For a complete obituary and online registry please visit: www.jurrensfuneralhome.com
Norman Dale Klaassen was born August 8, 1934 near Sibley, IA to Fred E. and Elma F. (Kruse) Klaassen. He received his education in country school. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He was united in marriage to Sheila Spieker on August 12, 1955. Upon his discharge from the service, Norman and Sheila moved back to the Sibley area where he was employed by the ASCS office. In 1960, he started farming near Little Rock and remained a farmer at heart to the end. That same year, he started auctioning and was active in the area for over 50 years conducting over 2700 auctions. He relaxed his schedule only when Parkinson’s started affecting his voice. He was a lifetime member of Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, served on the Consistory many times over the years and was a lifetime member of the Little Rock Buss-Johnson American Legion Post No. 316. He loved to help people and especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s events. This past Thursday, Norman passed away at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls at the age of 80.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sheila Klaassen of Sibley; daughter, Kim (Orris) Gevik of Sioux Falls, SD and their children, Kristen (Chris) Thorkelson also from Sioux Falls, and Erin Gevik and special friend Hector Ortiz both of Minneapolis, MN; son, Kevin (Laurel) Klaassen of Sibley, IA and their children Hannah Klaassen of Brookings, SD and Ellie and Natalie Klaassen of Sibley, IA; 2 great grandchildren, Harper and Oliver Thorkelson; brothers, Robert Klaassen and Larry Klaassen both of Sibley, IA; sister, Crystal (Dennis) Clark of Little Rock, IA; sister-in-law, Bernita Klaassen of Little Rock, IA; nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents; great-grandson, Christian Gevik Thorkelson; brother, Burdell Klaassen; sister, Donna Alberts; brother, Garry Klaassen; and sister-in-law, Melvina Klaassen.
