Karlton F. Kletschke

Karl Kletschke, 78, of Sioux City passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, Saturday, May 13, 2006, at a Sioux City hospital following a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wesley United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Merrill Muller officiating. Graveside services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Karl was born Jan. 2, 1928, in Warrenville, Ill., the son of Karlton W. and Edith L. (Babcock) Kletschke. He graduated from high school in Wheaton, Ill. Immediately following his graduation from high school, he signed a professional contract with the Chicago Cubs. While playing for the Cubs farm team in Janesville, Ill., Karl suffered an appendicitis attack, which ended the season for him.

A hometown friend invited him to come to Sioux City, where he received the first baseball scholarship ever awarded by the Morningside College "Maroon Chiefs." While he was a student at Morningside, he worked part time at Mickelson's Clothing Store.

Following graduation from college, he married Jeanette J. Larson on July 30, 1951, in Meriden, Iowa, and went to work full time at Mickelson's. For several years he also played a couple nights a week in a semi-pro baseball league in Iowa and Nebraska as a left-handed pitcher. In 1960, Karl left Mickelson's to start Karl's Prep and Harvard Shop. A few years later, he purchased Mickelson's from his former employer and renamed his second location Karlton's. In 1972, he consolidated the two stores into its present Fourth Street location, Karlton's Clothiers and Tailors. After working alongside them their entire careers, Karl retired and sold the store to his two sons in 1993.

Karl was an avid Cubs and Kansas City Chiefs fan. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling and especially spending time at the couple's lake home at Lewis and Clark Lake with his children and grandchildren.

Karl's memory will be cherished by his survivors, which include his wife of 54 years, Jeanette; his four children and their spouses, Kim and Deborah Kletschke of Sioux City, Kal and Kimberly Kletschke of Sioux City, Jane and Tom Hedlund of Hinton, Iowa, and Jean and Dr. Steve Benson of Cherokee, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Brooke Odem and husband, Nathan, Kasey Kletschke, Korey Kletschke, Kamryn Kletschke, Erin Hedlund, Lauren Hedlund, Brittany Benson and Brock Benson; and a sister, Joyce Murdock and husband, Steve and family.

Pallbearers will be Kal Kletschke, Kim Kletschke, Korey Kletschke, Brock Benson, Steve Benson and Tom Hedlund. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Hanson, Bill Enockson, Mark Wessels, Doug Bogenrief, Joe Custer, Jack Steadman, Don Nelson, Jerry Nelson, Warren Held, Bernard Cooper, Darrell Thomas, Ken Bjork, Harold Gaede, Dean DeGeeter, Salty Saltwell, John Yaneff, Keith Mortensen, Dwight Hauff, Art Armbrust and the late Ben Polaykoff.

In honor of Karl's love for baseball and Morningside College, the family requests memorials to Morningside College Baseball Scholarship, c/o Karlton's Men's Clothiers & Tailors, 515 Fourth St., Sioux City, IA 51101, in lieu of flowers.