Wilbur Kloefkorn, 94 of Akron, passed away on January 4, 2018 at the Colorado Plains Medical Center. He was the embodiment of the exemplary farmer and loved his work, but he was ever so much more. In Paul Harvey's words, "And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.
Wilbur Kloefkorn was born on December 23, 1923 to Vera Lucille and Albert Earl Kloefkorn in Woodrow, Colorado. He was the third of nine children. The family moved to Oklahoma when he was a baby, and Wilbur grew up in Alliance, Nebraska. A child of the Great Depression, he volunteered to serve in the Army while still a senior in high school (even though he was too young).
He was inducted into service in WWII on March 27, 1943. He served in the European Theater with the 66th Black Panther Infantry Division, earning the Expert Rifleman Badge, American Theater Ribbon, EAMET Ribbon, Good Conduct and Victory.
After his return from the war, Wilbur acted on his love of the land and became a farmer and rancher, living his years outside of Akron, Colorado. He married his love, Nora Rose Wright, on December 12, 1948 at the First Presbyterian church in Akron. Together they raised their three daughters, Vickie Lynn, Donna Rose, and Peggy Lou. Nothing was more important in his life than his family.
His family expanded, and Wilbur had eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Through the years Wilbur made wood projects for many of the grandchildren, and loved taking them tubing on the snow through the pasture and riding in the combine with candy. Wilbur loved cars, hunting, Pepsi, coffee, and candy of all varieties. He was a perfectionist by nature, but had one of the kindest, most loving and generous souls anyone could imagine.
Wilbur was surrounded by a family who loved and adored him. He was a wonderful son, brother, husband, and Gramps. His serious, quiet nature and dry sense of humor will be missed by all. Wilbur recently celebrated his 69th wedding anniversary and his 94th birthday. Few people are fortunate enough to meet such an extraordinary person in their lifetime, and those surviving him feel blessed to have been a part of his long and loving life.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Akron. Interment will follow at the Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.