Mathew R. Kleinschmidt, Jr.

Mathew R. "Matt" Kleinschmidt Jr., 81, of Sioux City passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at a local hospital.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Randy Knuth, pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux City. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mathew was born May 15, 1928, in Menominee, Neb., the son of Mathew H. and Susan (Brandt) Kleinschmidt Sr. He served with the U.S. Army National Guard in Yankton, S.D.

On Nov. 21, 1948, he married DeLoris M. Jensen in Yankton, S.D. The couple made their home in Yankton until 1956, when Matt was transferred to Sioux City with SMB Stage Lines. He later worked for Johnson Biscuit Co. and Sioux City Brickyard. For many years, he was a self-employed carpenter. He enjoyed fishing, camping, rummage sales and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, DeLoris; four children and their spouses, Mathew J. and Connie Kleinschmidt, Kathy and Larry Lafferty, all of Sioux City, Vicky and Jerry Behrens of Merrill, Iowa, and Jeremy and Dawn Kleinschmidt of South Sioux City; 10 grandchildren, Michelle Stanfield and her husband James, Christopher Kleinschmidt and his wife Missie, Heather, Jason and Kevin Lafferty, Nick Behrens, Amber Le and her husband Vu, Isaiah Nelson, Jessica and Brenden Kleinschmidt; two great-grandchildren, Karissa Stanfield and Remington Kleinschmidt and another one on the way, Oliver Le; and three sisters, Donna Fox and her husband Bob, Margaret Foote and Lavaun Schneiders and her husband Paul, all of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Kleinschmidt.

Pallbearers will be Chris Kleinschmidt, James Stanfield, Ryan Lais, David Jensen, Rodger Broveak and Nick Behrens. Honorary pallbearer will be Isaiah Nelson.

Memorials may be directed to the family.