Gordon “Gordie” Klimesh

Monday, June 1, 2020 5:08 pm

Gordon “Gordie” Klimesh, 80, of Spillville, died Sunday, May 24, 2020, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. A Mass of Christian Burial was at 12 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar. The service also was be livestreamed at facebook.com/CFOSparishes. Burial was in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in Spillville, following the mass, with military honors. Rev. Robert Gross presided. The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Gordon James Klimesh was born Aug. 9, 1939, the son of George and Augusta (Houdek) Klimesh, at the family house. He attended country and parochial schools and graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin, in 1957. He then entered the Army, spending some time in Germany. He was discharged in July of 1959. Gordon was united in marriage to Shirley Phillips Sept. 19, 1961, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville. To this union five children were born. He was a lifelong farmer, farming northwest of Spillville. Gordon was a member of American Legion Post No. 467, Spillville. He played the bugle for the Legion many times throughout the years. He enjoyed model railroading, Cowboy shooting events, Polka dancing and traveling out west, especially to Colorado.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley; children: Richard (Christy) Klimesh, Spillville; Sandra (Shawn) Praska, Cedar Falls; Steve Klimesh, Platteville, Colo.; Joe Klimesh, Mabel, Minn.; Connie (Lester Timp) Klimesh, Calmar; grandchildren: Starlette (Dereck) Moellers, Ossian; Brad Klimesh, Protivin; Ambriehl (Brayton) Boyer, St. Lucas; and Peyton Klimesh, Mabel, Minn.; great-grandchildren: Zane, Dawson and Camden Moellers; Hunter and Waylon Boyer; siblings: Gabe (Mary) Klimesh, Spillville; Gary Klimesh, Rock Island, Ill.; Gloria Klimesh, Waterloo; sister-in-law, Alice Klimesh, Ridgeway; brother-in-law, Marvin (Alice) Phillips, Fort Atkinson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Augusta (Houdek) Klimesh; siblings: George Jr. (Alice), Glen, Georgina, Gwendolyn, Gayle (twin sister) and Greta (Herman) Kriener; granddaughter, Ashley Klimesh; father and mother-in-law, Ludger and Margaret (Pechota) Phillips.