William Klaudt

William “Bill” Klaudt, a long-time Jamestown College professor, died Thursday evening, December 10, 2015 at Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo, ND at the age of 85.

Bill was born November 7, 1930, in Menno, South Dakota, the son of William and Olga (Dannenbring) Klaudt, Sr. He grew up and attended school in Menno, graduating from Menno High School. He graduated from the University of South Dakota – Springfield, received his Master’s Degree from Black Hills State University, and also did graduate work at Denver University, Syracuse University, University of Rhode Island and Georgetown University. Bill married Dolores Holleman on August 28, 1956, in Springfield, South Dakota.

Bill was a Professor and Chairman of the Business Administration Department at Jamestown College for 27 years, retiring in 1994 as Professor Emeritus. He was honored by the student body in 1970-71 by being selected as the Professor of the Year. Before that he was a business teacher at Rapid City Central High School and Black Hills State University. He also was the Educational Administrator at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Bill was involved in the management of several family businesses in Menno and Rapid City, and was a co-founder and partner in Business Consultants in Jamestown. In 2006 he was inducted into the Jamestown College Alumni Hall of Fame, the first and only non-alumnus to be inducted.

During the Korean War he served as an Army Battalion Supply Specialist in Germany, 1952-54. While in Rapid City he was Chairman of the Board of Elders, Congregational President, and Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee at Zion Lutheran Church. Bill was also Director of the Missouri Lutheran Church Synod’s South Dakota District Mission Program for several years. At Trinity Lutheran Church in Jamestown he served on the Church Council, was Chairman of the United Mission Appeal and along with his wife organized and directed 9 Adult Bible Study and Fellowship Groups. He served as a lay pastor in both communities.

His favorite pastimes were camping, photography, and traveling throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe with his wife, Dolores, and sons. He also enjoyed all Jamestown College and Pro Sports. However, his greatest joy came in watching the potential within others being realized. Upon his retirement from Jamestown College in 1994 he gave freely of his time and talent in volunteer work as a SCORE Consultant, Jamestown Community Foundation Board member, Chairman of the Investment Committee for the Foundation, and other services.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores; son, Kent Klaudt, San Francisco, CA; brother, Doug (Donna) Klaudt, Seattle, WA; brother-in-law, Harvey (Annette) Holleman, Eden Prairie, MN; sister-in-law, Marlene (Holleman) and Jim Dahm, Pella, IA; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and son, Kraig Klaudt, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamestown, with Pastor Kristi Weber officiating.

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 14, 2015 at Williams-Lisko Funeral Chapel.

Interment: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown.

Memorials: May be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 523 4th Avenue SE, Jamestown, ND 58401 or the University of Jamestown, 610 7th Avenue NE, Jamestown.

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