Obit: Klopf, Alfred Christian (1870 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email:  crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Klopf, Longenecker, Calway, Reineking, Swanson, Cathcart

----Sources: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 4 Feb. 1943

Klopf, Alfred Christian (30 March 1870 - 1 Feb. 1943)

Funeral services for Alfred Christian Klopf, 72, were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1, 1943, at the Jaster Funeral Home. The Rev. G. W. Longenecker conducted the rites. Interment was made in the Klopf family lot in the Neillsville Cemetery.

Mr. Klopf had not been noticeably ill until the past year, although a gradual hardening of the muscles of the heart had evidently been in process from some time.

The departed was born March 30th, 1870, in Johnsonville, Sheboygan County, Wis., the youngest son of Frederick and Pauline Klopf. When Mr. Klopf was four years old, his parents, brothers and sister came to this county.

He attended the Neillsville schools, working in the jewelry store for his brother, Henry Klopf, for eight years before entering the Trowbridge Watch-making school at Winona, Minn., from which he was graduated in 1894. Two years later, in 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Inez Calway. He conducted a jewelry store at Marathon City for a few years, returning to Neillsville in 1898, to take over his brother’s business’ during Captain Henry Klopf’s absence at the time of the Spanish-American War.

After the war, Mr. and Mrs. Klopf planned to return to Marathon City, but the death of his father in 1900, and the desire of his mother that they enter into business here and make their home at the Klopf homestead, kept them in Neillsville, Wis. In 1929 he sold his jewelry stock, but remained in the watch-repairing business for the balance of his wife, for the past several years conducting the business in his home. The close work of watch-repairing created in Mr. Klopf a desire for the out-of-doors. He loved to hunt, fish and garden. As a hobby, he chose the raising of chickens and goats. He maintained a cheerful, uncomplaining disposition until the end.

Mr. Klopf was the father of two children: Kelvin, Waupun, Wis., and Vahla, at home. Surviving beside his wife and children are: A granddaughter, Karen Klopf, 12, a brother, William Klopf, Neillsville, 84, and three nephews and a niece, Clarence Klopf, Madison, Albert Reineking, Wausau; Arthur Reineking, Harvey, N. D.; and Mrs. Edna Swanson, Montana. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Henry, Gust and Frederick Klopf, and by an only sister, Mrs. Louise Reineking.

Those who attended the funeral from distant places were the son, Kelvin, and his wife and Albert Reineking. A cousin, Lyman Cathcart of St. Paul, had planned to be here, but was overtaken by illness.