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Alvin Kloeckner -- 2004 The Burlington Record, Burlington Colorado Longtime Kit Carson County resident Alvin Walter Paul "Al" Kloeckner passes away Monday, May 3, 2004 at the Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver. He was 74 years old. Al was born Aug. 25 1929 north of Bethune, on the family homestead to Pauline (Kramer) and Walter Kloeckner. He was one of five children. In 1949, during his senior year in high school, Al was captain of football and basketball and took all-state in both. He also played in the All-State football game in 1949. In 1950, Al went to Otero Jr. College in La Junta, and was an all-conference champion in foot, basketball and track. In 1951, he went to Fort Worth, Texas to a Dodgers baseball tryout camp. He then transferred to Colorado State University in the spring of 1952. In the fall of 1954, Al graduated from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, with a major in P.E. and a minor in social studies. He received hi masters in secondary administration in 1962 from Adams State College in Alamosa. During all the years of Al's education, he married Ruby Perkins on June 11, 1950 in Burlington. To this union four children were born: Chris, Kent, Karyla and Kandyee. On April 17, 1980 Alvin married Diane M Werner Salmons, and adopted David and Mike, as his own children. Al had many different teaching positions across the state and in 1993, he retired from the Sangre de Cristo High School, where he taught social studies and coached basketball. Although Al retired, the coach in him never left. A favorite pastime for him was going to and watching any sporting event in the community. He always took an active interest in all the kids in the community, and was a mentor to many. Preceding Alvin in death were his parents, two sons Chris and Kent, one sister Dorene Kloeckner, and one brother, Anton Kloeckner. Al leaves behind his wife, Diane Kloeckner of Stratton, two daughters, Karyla Cozad and her husband John of Longpine, Neb., and Kandyce Kloeckner or Hays, Kan., and two stepsons, David Salmans and wife Leigh of Lafayette, and Mike Salman and wife Skeeter of Brighton. He also is survived by two step-grandchildren, and two sisters; Hildegarde Aeschlimann and husband Orvel of Burlington and Vera Stahlecker of Colorado Springs. Services for Al were held Saturday, May 8, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bethune. Pastor Roger Millheim officiated at the services and burial followed in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery north of Bethune. Memorial contributions may be made in Al's name and may be left at First National Bank of Stratton in Stratton. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Love Funeral Home, Burlington. |