Albert J. Kleinsasser

Rev. Albert J. Kleinsasser, 94, of 501 S. Kentucky Avenue, died Friday, February 17, 2006 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at the First Baptist Church, 125 East State Street with Rev. Ron Stein officiating. Interment will be in Elmwood- St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue at the church one hour before the service. Memorials may be given to the American Baptist International Missions. Rev. Kleinsasser was born March 13, 1911 in Dinuba, California the son of Andrew and Susanna (Stahl) Kleinsasser. He was raised on a farm near Huron, South Dakota, where he would later teach rural school. He attended high school in Yale, South Dakota for 2 years then graduated from Freeman Academy, Freeman, South Dakota. Rev Kleinsasser furthered his education at Freeman Junior College then graduated from John Fletcher College in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He also attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California and did graduate work at the American Baptist College in West Covina, California. He married Helen A. Wiens April 11, 1942 in Dinuba, California. Throughout his career Rev. Kleinsasser served churches in Alsen, North Dakota, Bonesteel, South Dakota, Ellendale, North Dakota, Watertown, South Dakota, Chino, California, Ft. Morgan, Colorado, Superior and Guide Rock, Nebraska. Following retirement in 1976, Rev. Kleinsasser and wife, Helen, moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas where they helped establish and where charter members of the Judson American Baptist Church. Rev. Kleinsasser also served 6 churches in Nebraska in an interim capacity. The Kleinsasser?s moved to Mason City in 1993. Rev. Kleinsasser was a former member of the Cosmopolitan Club and Lions Club. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, noon Kiwanis Club, American Baptist Ministers Association and a past board member of the Friends of College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, gardening and attending as many of his grandchildren?s athletic events as he could. Rev. Kleinsasser will be fondly remembered for his gift of humor and love of telling stories. He is survived by his sons, Keith A. Kleinsasser and wife Gretchen of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Rev. Albert J. Kleinsasser Jr. and wife Linda of Woodbury, Minnesota; daughter, Bonnie Peterson and husband Douglas of Mason City; grandchildren, Zachary Kleinsasser, Heidi Cole and husband Nathan, Joel and Allison Kleinsasser, Michael Peterson and wife Kendra, Dustin and Noelle Peterson; 4 step-grandchildren, Katy Dieffenbach, Andrea Emde and husband Brian, Benjamin and Alicia Dieffenbach; sister-in-law, Lydia Kleinsasser of Colorado Springs, Colorado; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Helen: son, John Mark Kleinsasser in 1957; 2 brothers, Andrew and Rev. Zach Kleinsasser; 2 sisters, Susie and Adena.

Visitation:
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on February 22, 2006 (map/driving directions) 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue on February 19, 2006 (map/driving directions)

Service:
11:00 AM at on February 23, 2006 (map/driving directions)