Joseph H. Klocker, Waite Park, 84

February 23, 1930 - August 5, 2014

Joseph Herman Klocker, age 84, Waite Park, MN, died Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be Friday, August 8, 2014 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Parish prayers will be at 7:00 PM at the funeral home on Friday. Private burial will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, MN.

Joe was born February 23, 1930 in Cold Spring, MN to Joseph J. and Mary Catherine (Fink) Klocker. He married Patricia “Pat” A. Gohman on November 8, 1956 in St. Cloud, MN. Joe was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Megarry Brothers from 1946 to 1951. From 1951 to 1955 Joe served in the United States Navy. Joe then was employed by Barbarossa and Sons for 34 years, retiring in 1993. He was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church where he was involved in many activities including Bouja sales. Joe was also a member of Waite Park American Legion Post #428 and St. Cloud Eagles Aerie #622, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. Joe also volunteered his time with the Red Cross.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Klocker of Waite Park, MN; daughters, Laurie (Joel) Vogel of St. Joseph, MN; Kim (Keith) Schoenecker of Savage, MN; Theresa “Terri” (Steve) Dolphin of Mineral Point, WI; Jackie (Marc) Paulson of Menomonie, WI; son, Brian (Mary Koshiol) Klocker of Clearwater, MN; daughter-in-law, Lynn Klocker of Robbinsdale, MN; sisters, Agnes Mockenhaupt of St. Cloud, MN; Francis Thiss of San Diego, CA; and brother, Donald Klocker of Taylors Falls, MN. Joseph is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren who lovingly referred to him as JoeJoe.

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Klocker on August 7, 2007, parents, three brothers, Clarence, Sylvester and Irvin Klocker, and four sisters, Lucille Klein, Alvina Maehren, Marcella Smith and Isabella Peschl, and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Peter and Isabella Gohman.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Joshua Vogel, Michael Klocker, David Klocker, Chad Dolphin, Kory Schoenecker and Kole Schoenecker.

Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters, Bobbi Jo Brantner, Kayla Nussmeier, Amanda Brummond and Danielle McKinley.

The family would like to thank the staffs of St. Cloud VA Hospital, St. Cloud Hospital 5th Floor Oncology, Heartland Hospice, Sterling Park Health Care Center and St. Benedict’s Senior Community for the loving and compassionate care they provided for our husband and dad in the last months of his journey.