Patricia “Pat” Ann Klopfenstein

Patricia “Pat” Ann Klopfenstein

Marion

Patricia “Pat” Ann Klopfenstein, 89, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Summit Point Memory Care Unit in Marion. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Marion Methodist Church, 5050 REC Dr., Marion. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 26, at Marion Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. Mike Morgan.

Pat was born on

April 1, 1934, in rural Washington County near Keota, Iowa, the daughter of Jake and Alma (Corpman) Soethout. She was a 1952 graduate of West Chester High School and went on to attend Iowa State Teacher’s College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she graduated with her Teacher’s Certificate. On Dec. 6, 1953, Pat was united in marriage to Victor Klopfenstein in Washington, Iowa, and together they had five children.

Pat was a community pillar and very active in service to her community. She was named the 2011 Marion Citizen of the Year by the Marion Chamber of Commerce and served as a Marion historian. Her many volunteer activities included work for the Marion Preservation Commission, the Marion Library Foundation, Marion Chamber of Commerce, the Linn County Task Force, the Heritage Agency of Aging, the Marion Food Pantry and the Marion Methodist Church. She was a member of the OOP Club and the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Friendship Force Club. Pat and Vic hosted over 200 foreign visitors at their home and enjoyed sharing interesting places in the community. Pat was honored by the National Friendship Force Club with the Wayne Smith Medal. The Klopfenstein Amphitheater at Lowe Park was named in honor of Pat and Vic. In the early 1960s, she was an entrepreneur, spending much time perfecting her baking and became known as the “cake cook”, where, at her peak, she averaged 44 cakes per week.

Early on, she was a teacher, having taught in Mitchellville, Keota and Ballard Community Schools. Pat served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Mental Health and served many people in a wide area for over 20 years. Pat will be remembered for her pride and joy in raising her five children and hosting visits with her extended family. Pat and Vic were long time members of the Marion Methodist Church. She enjoyed traveling, genealogy and history, sewing and gardening. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pat is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 69 years, Vic; children, Kevin (Deb) Klopfenstein of Parker, Ariz., Vivian (Pat) Quinn of Marion, Mark Klopfenstein of Marion, Vaughn (Shelley Walker) Klopfenstein of Cedar Rapids and Michelle (Scott) Sloan of Altoona, Iowa; grandchildren, Adrienne (Tyler) Coon, Adam (Nicole) Klopfenstein, Brady (Natalie) Quinn, Clancy (Tehrene) Quinn, Riley (Kelsey) Quinn, Daly Quinn, Jaclyn (Jeremy) Allen, Jake (Megan) Klopfenstein, Kayla (Jake) Guenther, Peter Klopfenstein, Ian Klopfenstein, Ava Klopfenstein, Ben (Callie) Sloan and Isaac Sloan; 16 great-grandchildren; brother, Harold Soethout of Urbandale, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, James (Marge) Soethout; and sister-in-law, Norma Soethout.

Memorials in Pat’s memory may be directed to the Marion Heritage Center at P.O. Box 753 Marion, IA 52302; or the Marion Methodist Church at 5050 REC Dr. Marion, IA 52302.

Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family. Please share a memory of Pat at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

The family would like to thank the staff at Summit Pointe and St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care they provided Pat.