Gerrit John Klumper was born on May 21, 1927 to Dick and Gertie (Jongetjes) Klumper in Fenton Township, Murray County, Minnesota. He was raised in the Leota, Minnesota area and moved to the Edgerton, Minnesota area with his family in 1934. Gerrit attended school at Edgerton Christian through the eighth grade. At age 13, Gerrit moved in with grandparents. In 1945 Gerrit was drafted into the United States Army and served first during World War II and later in 1950 served during the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge in 1951, Gerrit returned home. On February 15, 1952 Gerrit was united in marriage to Lois Beckering at Lois’ parents’ home in Edgerton. They made their church home at the First Reformed Church in Edgerton. Gerrit worked from 1951 to 1954 as an auto mechanic and then for the creamery from 1954 to 1956. He then began working at the Farmer’s Coop grain elevator in Edgerton where he served as Assistant Manager and did accounting work until his retirement in 1994. On August 1, 2015, Gerrit and Lois moved to Falls Landing in Pipestone, Minnesota. On August 23, 2015, Gerrit entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where on Thursday, October 1, 2015 he died peacefully at the age of 88 years, four months and ten days.

Gerrit was a member of the First Reformed Church in Edgerton where he sang in the choir for 20 years and a men’s quartet, served on consistory, and taught Sunday School and Catechism. Gerrit served on the Edgebrook Care Center board in Edgerton for seven years and served on RCYF. He loved woodworking and created many beautiful furniture pieces for his family. He also loved to bake and listen to music.

Grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Lois Klumper of Pipestone; Jerry (Carol) Klumper of Elk Point, South Dakota, Karla (Jon) Wornson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Kathy (Curt) Fey of Pipestone; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; six siblings, Elizabeth VanKeppel of DeMotte, Indiana, Lambert (Henrietta) Klumper of Edgerton, Ellen (Bernard) Klumper of Berryville, Arkansas, Henry Klumper of Edgerton, Cornelius (Katherine) Klumper of Trosky, Minnesota, and Andrew (Willemina) Klumper of Artesia, California; and other family. He was preceded in death by his great-grandson, Isaac Schuld; parents, Dick and Gertie Klumper; sister, Marie Hartke; brother, Bernard Klumper; and an infant sister, Francis Klumper.