Obituary - Harold Kluss

Harold Kluss, 87, of Lewiston, peacefully joined our Lord and Father in heaven Monday, Sept. 17, 2012. Harold was born Dec. 23, 1924, in Genesee, to Rudolph and Emma Kluss. He grew up on the family farm with his brother Ralph and attended school in Genesee, graduating from Genesee High School in 1942. Harold was a fun loving young man and one time he and buddy Don Hermann drove a 1936 Plymouth from Genesee to Lewiston, in reverse for the entire trip, because "It was 1 a.m. and they didn't want to go home."

Harold joined the U.S. Army in December 1948. He was stationed in Fort Ord, Calif., and Fort Lewis, Wash. and discharged in 1950. When Harold was discharged from the service, he returned to Genesee and took over operations of the family farm. In addition to being a successful farmer, his love of woodworking enabled him to build a workshop and become a well-respected cabinet maker in the area. Harold's free time found him at Moscow Bowl-O-Rama where he was an avid bowler who competed in National Bowling Tournaments in Oakland, Reno and Chicago. He maintained the bowling machines at the Bowl-O-Rama and custom fit bowling balls for fellow bowlers.

Harold lived on the family farm with his mother and remained a bachelor until the age of 71. In September 1996, he married longtime friend Darleen Vassar, who died in December 1998. During their marriage they enjoyed their common pastime of bowling, being with family and friends, and traveling the Northwest. During his life on the farm, Harold, Lawrence Hasfurther and Andy Grieser were haying buddies who helped each other out during the busy haying season.

Rural mail in the Genesee area was faithfully delivered by Harold for many years in his Mazda Rotary pickup, and he went through three engines to be certain that task was fulfilled for his neighbors and friends.

The Kluss farm, homesteaded in 1877, was honored as an Idaho Century Farm, given by the Idaho State Historical Society in July 2010. Harold was very proud of this and he was honored to be one of the Grand Marshals of the parade during Genesee Days in 2011.

Harold retired in 1989 but remained on the farm until 2008, when he moved to Juniper Meadows in Lewiston. Survivors include sister-in-law, Eileen Kluss; and his nieces and nephews, Sr. Mary Frances Kluss, Ed Kluss, wife Sue, children, Shannon and Eric; Judy Bean, husband, Larry, children, Carly (husband Jason) and Courtney (fiance Roland); Jim Kluss, wife, Carolyn, children, Laura, Chivonne (husband Jared) and Ian; Bob Kluss, wife, Debbie, children, Bobby, Jason and Brandon; stepchildren, Damon Vassar and wife, Darby, and Linda Georgeson. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Darleen, brother, Ralph, and an infant sister.

A lifelong communicant of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Genesee, Harold was baptized, received his First Communion and was married there.

Friday, September 21, Harold and Darleen's 16th wedding anniversary, will be the date of the funeral services at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Genesee. Rosary will be said at 1:30 p.m. with Mass of Christian Burial following at 2 p.m. Burial will be at Genesee Catholic Cemetery following the service. Reception after the service at St. Mary's parish hall.

Lewiston Tribune, September 20, 2012, p. 5C
Transcribed by Jill Leonard Nock