IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Edward
Klumb
July 19, 1932 – December 20, 2024
Obituary
Edward Louis Klumb, the last surviving member of the Emil and Lena (nee Seefeldt) Klumb family, passed away peacefully on December 20, at the age of 92, after a brief stay at Froedtert West Bend Hospital
Edward was preceded in death by his older sisters Arlene Wulff and Esther Fowler, his younger brother Harvey, and his little but spunky sister Audrey Klumb.
Always known for his great sense of humor, Edward charmed his nurses during those last days at the hospital. Knowing the end was near, he was unafraid and grateful for the life he had lived.
Edward was born on July 19, 1932 in the house that remained his home for the rest of his life. Together with Harvey and Audrey, he took over the family dairy farm around 1965 and established a registered purebred Holstein herd that traces back to two registered Holsteins purchased in 1951. Over the years they worked to continually improve their herd through careful breeding, with Edward trusting his own insight to make breeding choices, a skill developed early in life. He remembered as a kid going for a drive with his father to look at the bulls. Good breeding, along with good feeding practices and lots of tender loving care from Edward, Harvey and Audrey, was a winning combination - they earned numerous awards for the quality of their cattle including multiple life time production awards. The Klumb's became well known by the dairy industry across the state and beyond, even as far as Japan. It was some time before they realized what they had accomplished, and only after some prodding that they first registered their herd. Edward remembered for the rest of his life that first phone call from Select Sires informing him that his bull had "made proof" and would be added to their AI line.
The three siblings made a great team running and maintaining the picturesque farm. They also mentored several young men as hired hands over the years, some who fondly remember learning to drive a tractor on the Klumb farm.
Edward enjoyed vegetable gardening, making sure nothing went to waste, freezing or giving away whatever he couldn't eat himself, but he also had time to put Audrey's geraniums in the milkhouse to survive the winter. He did like having a neat place, one that drivers by would comment on.
In 2007 they decided to retire from milking cows and sold the herd, cash cropping for a few more years before finally renting out their land, giving them more time to enjoy rabbit hunting with their beloved beagles and fishing in the pond across the road. Edward would feed the fish daily, making it a stop on his regular trips on his John Deere Gator around the farm and to visit neighbors. He appreciated the heater and the A/C in his newest Gator, allowing him to go out in almost any weather. When anyone who didn't know him well would suggest that he move, whether it be just to town, or to assisted living, he would ask "But where would I drive my Gator?"
His Gator route often took him through the woods, where he would be looking for deer. That was the highlight of the year for both brothers - deer hunting. During their younger years, they hunted with many relatives, including their nephews and even great nephew. Later in life, due to the efforts of "deer" relatives, they walked up a broad staircase to a deer stand complete with a heater and swivel chair, conveniently located near a corn field. Edward shot his second deer this year from that deer stand on the last day of the season. You might have gotten a Christmas card with photos of his "doe" and buck.
He was a lifelong member and supporter of St Lucas Lutheran Church in Kewaskum, recently witnessing the groundbreaking for their new church.
Once a team, always a team, now the three of them, along with Buddy the beagle, are reunited.
A Funeral Service will be at 12:30pm on Monday, December 30, 2024 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W Paradise Dr. West Bend, WI 53095) with Pastor Timothy Henning presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday, December 30 th from 11:00am until 12:15pm. Interment will follow at 3:00pm at Lutheran Memorial Park Cemetery in Kewaskum.
Edward was preceded in death by his older sisters Arlene Wulff and Esther Fowler, his younger brother Harvey, and his little but spunky sister Audrey Klumb.
Always known for his great sense of humor, Edward charmed his nurses during those last days at the hospital. Knowing the end was near, he was unafraid and grateful for the life he had lived.
Edward was born on July 19, 1932 in the house that remained his home for the rest of his life. Together with Harvey and Audrey, he took over the family dairy farm around 1965 and established a registered purebred Holstein herd that traces back to two registered Holsteins purchased in 1951. Over the years they worked to continually improve their herd through careful breeding, with Edward trusting his own insight to make breeding choices, a skill developed early in life. He remembered as a kid going for a drive with his father to look at the bulls. Good breeding, along with good feeding practices and lots of tender loving care from Edward, Harvey and Audrey, was a winning combination - they earned numerous awards for the quality of their cattle including multiple life time production awards. The Klumb's became well known by the dairy industry across the state and beyond, even as far as Japan. It was some time before they realized what they had accomplished, and only after some prodding that they first registered their herd. Edward remembered for the rest of his life that first phone call from Select Sires informing him that his bull had "made proof" and would be added to their AI line.
The three siblings made a great team running and maintaining the picturesque farm. They also mentored several young men as hired hands over the years, some who fondly remember learning to drive a tractor on the Klumb farm.
Edward enjoyed vegetable gardening, making sure nothing went to waste, freezing or giving away whatever he couldn't eat himself, but he also had time to put Audrey's geraniums in the milkhouse to survive the winter. He did like having a neat place, one that drivers by would comment on.
In 2007 they decided to retire from milking cows and sold the herd, cash cropping for a few more years before finally renting out their land, giving them more time to enjoy rabbit hunting with their beloved beagles and fishing in the pond across the road. Edward would feed the fish daily, making it a stop on his regular trips on his John Deere Gator around the farm and to visit neighbors. He appreciated the heater and the A/C in his newest Gator, allowing him to go out in almost any weather. When anyone who didn't know him well would suggest that he move, whether it be just to town, or to assisted living, he would ask "But where would I drive my Gator?"
His Gator route often took him through the woods, where he would be looking for deer. That was the highlight of the year for both brothers - deer hunting. During their younger years, they hunted with many relatives, including their nephews and even great nephew. Later in life, due to the efforts of "deer" relatives, they walked up a broad staircase to a deer stand complete with a heater and swivel chair, conveniently located near a corn field. Edward shot his second deer this year from that deer stand on the last day of the season. You might have gotten a Christmas card with photos of his "doe" and buck.
He was a lifelong member and supporter of St Lucas Lutheran Church in Kewaskum, recently witnessing the groundbreaking for their new church.
Once a team, always a team, now the three of them, along with Buddy the beagle, are reunited.
A Funeral Service will be at 12:30pm on Monday, December 30, 2024 at the Phillip Funeral Home Chapel (1420 W Paradise Dr. West Bend, WI 53095) with Pastor Timothy Henning presiding. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday, December 30 th from 11:00am until 12:15pm. Interment will follow at 3:00pm at Lutheran Memorial Park Cemetery in Kewaskum.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Edward Klumb, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
December
30
Phillip Funeral Home Chapel
11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Funeral Service
December
30
Phillip Funeral Home Chapel
Starts at 12:30 pm
Edward Klumb's Guestbook
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