Eugene Richard (Pat) Klaver, of Belmont, Kansas passed away peacefully on Friday July 2, 2021 at Kansas Medical Center, Andover, KS. He was 91 years old.
Pat was born on September 13, 1929 on the family farm north of Belmont, Kansas to Fred W. and Irene Madaline Miller Klaver. He was a Belmont High School graduate and attended Garden City Junior College for two years on a basketball scholarship. In 1948 he met the love of his life, Georgia Hamilton, at a dance in Harper, KS. They were married October 22, 1950, in Anthony, Kansas. They celebrated 70 years of marriage last October. Together, they built a home on the family farm near Belmont where they raised their three children, wheat, cattle, and many dogs that became victim to Pat’s truck tires. Pat, a lifetime farmer, was also employed at Boeing for a number of years, finishing his career as a manager for Garvey Elevators for over 20 years, retiring in 1994.
When he wasn’t farming, Pat enjoyed life with his family and friends. As a young man he was known as a talented fast pitch softball pitcher. His other sources of enjoyment were taking summer fishing trips to Colorado with his family, attending his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events, drinking coffee at the elevator, and teaching his grandchildren how to fish and how to cheat at card games. Pat was a member of the Norwich United Methodist Church. He was a 70-year member of the Kansas Freemasons, Norwich Lodge later transferred to Harper Lodge No. 206; as well also a member of the York Rite of Kansas, Chapter # 71; Kingman Commandery No. 34 Knights Templar; and Midian Shriners. Always one for a joke, Pat was loved by his community and known for his teasing nature. With a pocket full of Big Red and Juicy Fruit gum, Pat always greeted the community kids with a stick of gum and a smile.
Pat is preceded in death by his parents Fred W. and Madaline Klaver; brother Fred W. Jr (Hons); sister Betty Klaver Fieser and son-in-law Carl Durr.
He is survived by his loving wife Georgia Klaver of Belmont, KS; sister Alice Newcomb of Waldorf, MD; daughter Deborah Durr of Belmont, KS; son Bill (Donna) Klaver of Belmont, KS and son Michael (Angela) Klaver of Norwich, KS.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew (Jacque) Durr of Eudora, KS; Nathan (Tara) Durr of Cheney, KS; Taylor (Amy) Durr of Belmont, KS; Megan (Josh) Titus of Lebanon, MO; Kelsey (Daniel) Delp of Goddard, KS; Emily (Clint) Drosselmeyer of Kingman, KS; Sam Klaver of Belmont, KS; and Mackenzie (Michael) O’Gorman of Denver, CO. As well as 13 great grandchildren with the 14th arriving in November and an abundance of family and friends.
There will be a public visitation 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6th at Livingston Funeral Home in Kingman, KS.
A funeral service for Pat will be held at 10am on Wednesday, July 7th at Norwich United Methodist Church. A memorial has been established with the Norwich United Methodist Church and the Norwich Fire Department.