Kluesner, Phil

Phil Kluesner, 56, of 11548 Gun Club Rd., Epworth, died at 9:03 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. Friends and relatives may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth. The Farley Fire Department will meet in a body at 7 p.m. Services for Phil will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Farley, with the Rev. Michael Schueller officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph‘s Cemetery in Farley.

Phil was born May 10, 1957, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of John and Adele (Humke) Kluesner. He was a 1975 graduate of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth. On Aug. 19, 1978, he was united in marriage to Marchelle Gassmann at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Holy Cross. Phil worked as a John Deere salesman for 38 years. He was a devoted family man and someone you could always count on for a smile and a laugh. Phil enjoyed his Busch Light, especially while watching the Hawkeyes.

He will be forever remembered for his boating escapades, especially pulling his nieces and nephews on those tubes. He loved decorating the house and yard with Christmas lights every year, he was our own Clarke Griswald. His favorite winter activity was attending his daughters' dance competitions. Many people will remember him for the helping hand he gave and for his love of John Deere tractors. Phil wasn't too sentimental and wouldn't want those who cared for him to waste their time in grief, so in honor of Phil enjoy life to the fullest and with a smile.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Parish in Farley and was also a retired volunteer Farley fireman, having served the community for 20 years.

He is survived by his wife, Marchelle Kluesner of Epworth; three children, Alisa (friend Jason) Kluesner, Jonathan (friend Taylor) Kluesner and Becky Kluesner, all of Epworth; one grandchild, Lydia; his mother, Adele Kluesner of Farley; three sisters, Janda (Jim) Heister of Epworth, Jill (Steve) Ungs of Cedar Rapids and Jeanette (Jeff) Schmidt of Farley; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donna Kluesner of Farley, Jeanine (Jerry) Koch of Dyersville, Loras Gassmann of Olympia, Wash., Marilyn Errthum of Guttenburg, Karolyn Taylor of Holy Cross and Stan (Jane) Gassmann of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his father, John William Kluesner, on Aug. 29, 1970; a brother, Neil J. Kluesner on Sept. 16, 1984; a niece, Rachel Ungs; his father- and mother-in-law, Cy and Alvina Gassmann; and two brothers-in law, Joe Taylor and Francis Errthum.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

Published Aug. 2, 2013 in The Gazette