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Gordon "Gordy" Lowell Beier

1938 - 2007

Gordon "Gordy" Beier, 68, died on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at his home in Klemme, following a lengthy battle with kidney disease. Funeral services were held on Friday, February 16, at the Klemme United Methodist Church, with Rev. Paddy Druhl officiating. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery.

Gordon Lowell, the son of Elmer and Faye (Bridges) Beier, was born on March 31, 1938 on his parents' farm in Liberty Township, Hancock County. He was baptized and confirmed at the Liberty Methodist Church. He attended the Liberty Township #8 Rural School and graduated from the Klemme High School. Gordon married Ione Rosendahl. Gordon and Ione were later divorced and he married Jane Hrubes on October 29, 1989 at Garner. Gordy had worked in various occupations, including Rosendahl Tiling, in the dairy industry in California and trucking throughout the region, including Rath Trucking of Clarion. For more than 19 years he had been a custodian at the Klemme School and later with Belmond-Klemme. His years were a labor of love, as both Gordy and the youth shared a mutual admiration for one another. His warm smile and personality were inviting to almost everyone. In addition to the school, Gordy worked at the Klemme Town Mart. He remembered the names of many customers and was quick to share a smile and hello. For many years Gordy helped on the Pringnitz family farm. As long as he had a thermos of coffee, he could fulfill his role for hours. If he wasn't sitting on a piece of farm equipment, he might be found in the machine shop or other building making sure that everything was clean and in good repair. He loved to spend time with his family and looked forward to teaching his kids and grandkids how to fish and taking them camping. One might find Gordy sitting next to them at the piano in a family sing-a-long, or in the middle of a game they were playing. He loved music and had sung at funerals with his sister and others, as well as in the church choir.

Gordy could often be found at the wheel of "Grandpa Gordy's Shuttle Bus Service". He was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and his love for the "Purple and Gold" was only matched by his love for the "Green and Yellow" of farm machinery. On a summer evening he could often be found in the back yard sitting with family and friends sharing stories. He was especially fond of humming birds which often took a liking to him. Gordy loved to golf, shared the spirit of Christmas year around, and enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino to play the slots. He was proud of his 26 years of sobriety as a member of AA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Gertrude Beier; brother, Eugene and his wife, Carmen; and sister, Shirley Doolittle.

Survivors include his wife, Jane; sons, Ben Beier and his sons, Trent and Tanner of Lake Mills, Jesse (Angie) Pringnitz and their children, Kelsi and Jake of Garner, Jerry (Karrie) Pringnitz and their children, Jade, Jace, Joseph and Jenna of Garner, Roy Hrubes and his special friend, Jamie of Shellsburg; daughters, Chris (Eric) Jackson and their children, Lucas and Miranda of Garner, Jeri VerHelst and her children, Justin (wife Tonia) and Stacey of Humboldt, Jody (Gary) St. John and their children, Chad and Cory of Fort Dodge, Joan (Bill) Arndt and their children, Nikki, Sammi and Keith of Fort Dodge and Jennifer (Mark) Slattery and their children, Audra, Kurt, Lauren and Emma of Taylor Ridge, Illinois; sisters, LaVonne Simon of Winterset, Beverly Thorson of Klemme, Janis (Wayne) Smith of Webster City and Joann (Roger) Hansen of Kanawha; brothers, Robert (Donna) Beier of Pleasantville, Ronald Beier of Leonardville, Minnesota, James Beier of Newtown, Pennsylvania and Roger (Linda) Beier of Mason City; and brother-in-law, Doug Doolittle of Webster City.


source: Belmond Independent, 20 Feb 2007

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