The funeral service for Viola J. Klomp, 93, of New Richland, MN and formerly of Stewartville, MN, will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Byron Meline officiating. Burial and a committal service will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville. Mrs. Klomp died on Friday, April 8, 2016 of natural causes at the New Richland Care Center, where she had resided since December of 2010.
Viola June Lange was born on June 16, 1922 in Harmony, MN, to Friebert and Sarah (Miller) Lange. She grew up on the family farm and attended country and Harmony schools. She helped on the family farm and was employed as a clerk at the Johnson Grocery Store in Harmony.
Viola was married on February 18, 1946 at Big Spring Lutheran Church in rural Harmony to George Klomp. Following their marriage the couple lived in Harmony, where George taught school and was elementary school principal from 1952 to 1954. Viola was a homemaker and the Klomp family moved to Albert Lea, MN in 1954 to 1956, where George once again taught and served as elementary school principal. They moved to Stewartville in 1956, where George was the first principal at Central Elementary School until his retirement in 1985. Viola was employed as activities director at the Stewartville Care Center for 17 years. The Klomps were both longtime active members of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, where Viola volunteered with many of its ladies activities and the Sarah and Quilting Circles. She served as Welcome Wagon Hostess and, with George, delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered with Channel One Food Bank. Mr. Klomp died on August 31, 2005. Viola moved that year to Waseca, MN to live near her son, Mike. She liked sewing, gardening, listening to music and played organ at church services in younger years. She loved time spent with friends and family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Viola is survived by two daughters and one son: Mike (Carmen) of Waseca, MN; Sara Klomp of Minneapolis and Selisa (David) Erickson of Trempealeau,WI; three grandchildren: Jeremy (Sara) Klomp, Jennifer (Lou) Roberts and Adam (Kamille) Klomp; three great-grandchildren: Alyson Klomp, Louis Roberts and George Klomp; one sister and two brothers: Dolly Mensink of Pine Isalnd, MN, Manley (Lorraine) Lange and Manfred (Carol) Lange, both of Harmony, MN; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George, her parents, a sister, Annabelle Kvam, brother, Elmer Lange, and brother–in-law Arlyn Mensink.
A time of visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Griffin–Gray Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday morning. The family suggests memorials to Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. www.griffin-gray.com.