Kenneth W. Klaehn, 84

Kenneth Wilbur Klaehn, age 84, of Austin, Minnesota passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the Legacy in Brownsdale.

Kenny was born to Freddie and Fern Klaehn of Dexter Township, Minnesota on September 23, 1939. He attended Elkton Schools and graduated in 1957.

On October 17, 1958 he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Danielson with whom he raised six children. Kenny was a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elkton where he was heavily involved in the building of the current sanctuary and where he served for many years as an usher and as Treasurer on the church council.

His primary vocation was as a farmer and he and Betty raised their children on farms in and around Dexter. The economic realities of farming in those years had him supplementing the family’s income by doing carpentry, truck driving, and a long career as a school bus driver before beginning yet another 25 plus year career as a rural mail carrier.

Upon retiring from the Postal Service, they sold the farm within the family and moved to their lake house in Waterville, Minnesota where Kenny relished fishing with the kids, grandkids and friends, and hosting the extended family for many years.

Ultimately Kenny and Betty settled back in Austin to be closer to the action in support of their grandchildren as they worked their way through local schools, participating in all manner of sports and other extracurricular activities

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Freddie and Fern, and his brother, Loren “Doc”.

Survivors include his wife, Betty; six children, Keith of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kendall (Deb) of Adams, Minnesota, Kent of Clarksville, Tennessee, Kyle (Kerri) of Austin, Minnesota, Kari (Paul) Kuehneman of Austin, Minnesota, and Karla (Tim) Shulze of Dexter, Minnesota; 19 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren.

One can easily imaging that Kenny and Betty were truly in their element when surrounded by up to 55 descendants and anniversary celebrations, reunions, holidays and many other special occasions.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, May 31, 2024 at St. John Lutheran Church in Elkton with the Reverend Liz Erickson officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday at the Adams Funeral Home and also one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Elkton.

Arrangements by the Adams Funeral Home