George Klema

George Klema, age 89, of Bagley, MN, passed away on Tuesday (November 27th) at Greensview Care Center in Bagley. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday (November 30th) at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick, MN with the Rev. Thomas Jacobson officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (November 29th) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Gonvick American Legion Post #304 and arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston. An online guestbook is available at www.carlinhoialmen.com.George Amos Klema was born on July 10, 1918 in Gonvick, Minnesota to parents George and Bertha (Wagner) Klema. He was baptized and confirmed at Samhold Lutheran Church in Gonvick and attended the Winsor school north of town. George worked on a sugar beet farm near Fisher, Minnesota until he entered the United States Army on March 13, 1942. During World War II, George was a tank gunner in various wartime theatres, including northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and central Europe. He was captured and spent six months in a German POW camp. He received his honorable discharge on October 1, 1945 and returned to Gonvick. He was united in marriage to Mavis Brenna on December 22, 1945. After their marriage, they moved to Fisher for five years and George worked farming with his brother-in-law. He then moved back to the Gonvick area where he farmed on his own for several years. George then worked construction in many locations. He spent much of his time on and around air bases in North Dakota and also worked in Greenland while Mavis maintained their home life in Clearbrook. George retired and they continued to live in Clearbrook until 2005 when they moved to Bagley.He was a member of Samhold Lutheran Church and the Gonvick American Legion Post #304. He received a Purple Heart and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal for his duty during the war. George was the last surviving POW in Clearwater County. He liked to hunt and fish and spend time with his family.George passed away on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at Greensview Care Center in Bagley at the age of 89 years, four months and 17 days.Survivors include his wife of nearly 62 years, Mavis of Bagley; three children, David (Lois) Klema of Trail, MN, Kathy (Daniel) Klasen of Oklee, MN, and Michael (Charlotte) Klema of Bagley, MN; 8 grandchildren, Lisa, Angie, Jessica, Tina, Jeremiah, John, Ben, and Nathan; 8 great grandchildren; one sister, Ellen Klein of Crookston, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents; seven siblings, Minnie (Bernard) Tuomey, Bertha (Walter) Ross, Alvin (Hulda) Klema, Herman Klema, Martin Klema, Willis (Yvonne) Klema, and Evangeline (Walter) Eck; and one great granddaughter, Brianna Rose Erlandson; and brother-in-law, Werner Klein.Honorary Pallbearers will be Marlin Olson, Nathan Klema and Ben Klema & all of George's great grandchildrenActive Pallbearers will be Ethan Klasen, John Klema, Harold Ross, Wendell Klema, James Sundquist and John Erlandson.