Obituary for Kermit Klatt
Gail Kermit Klatt, age 85, of Jefferson City, Missouri., passed away peacefully Thursday, February 3, 2022, at his home.
He was born on January 1, 1937, in Blair, Nebraska, the son of Owen Charles and Leacy Lee (Brizendine) Klatt.
Kermit grew up in Jamestown, Missouri and was a 1955 graduate of Jamestown High School and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jamestown.
It was during his time in high school that he met the love of his life, Velma Jean Sapp. They were married on August 14, 1955, in Jamestown and they were blessed with 66 years of marriage. Kermit loved to celebrate life’s milestones with family and was so proud of his 50th, 60th and 65th wedding anniversaries to his high school sweetheart.
Kermit was employed in retail management throughout the Midwest for over 50 years. He specialized in building large farm and home supply stores from the inside out, organizing merchandise, stocking shelves, hiring staff, and managing them for the first few years. He built and successfully managed Orscheln stores throughout Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota. He eventually retired from management and moved back to central Missouri to be closer to family.
Kermit never really retired from his retail career because he truly had a servant’s heart. He was passionate about helping people and had a tremendous work ethic. Once he and his wife moved back to central Missouri, Kermit began working at Lowe’s Home Improvement store and cherished the relationships he made with coworkers and customers. At his home, he often used a walker to get around, however, when he was at Lowe’s he put that walker aside, and used a shopping cart, where he then gained the nickname “Kermit the Cart Man”. Many customers and associates loved being greeted by him and enjoyed seeing his warm smile. He preferred working in the afternoons and evenings when there was always more action around the store and was often found in the plumbing aisle where he knew the exact spot of everything. He worked this position for 20 years until poor health forced him to slow down in April 2021 at the age of 85.
Kermit’s family was always his priority. Whether he was following his grandkids on the football field, basketball court, baseball field or in their academic endeavors, he wanted to learn as much as he could so that he could share his pride with others. His own fondest memories were of his Canadian fishing trip, his farm pond fishing days and rabbit hunts with his children.
He is survived by: his loving wife, Jean Klatt; four children, Kenneth Klatt (Jeanne) of Springfield, IL., Randell Klatt (Janet) of Charlotte, NC., Stephanie Kemple of Jefferson City, MO. and Timothy Klatt (Becca) of Springfield, IL.; three siblings Jana Faye Johnson (Bud) of Morris, IL., Karen Platter of Russellville, MO. and Kathy Flippin (Daryl) of Jamestown, MO.; nine grandchildren, Joshua Klatt (Nikki), Jaime Teel (Trent), Sheila Berhorst (Bill), Nicole Likes (Philip), Payton Klatt (Emily), Carlyon Klatt, Jordan Kemple, Dalton Klatt and Nolan Klatt; and seven great-grandchildren, Cadance Klatt, Carter Klatt, Keaton Teel, Conner Berhorst, Sophia Berhorst, Evan Teel and Camden Teel.
Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Velma Vesta Sapp; father-in-law, James Guy Sapp; and son-in-law, Randy Kemple.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in the Freeman Chapel with the Chaplain Jim Mueller officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Jamestown, MO.
A webcast of Mr. Klatt’s service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday for friends that are not able to attend by going to the "photos and videos" tab of this page and scrolling down to the webcasting link.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Kermit Klatt Scholarship Fund, which will benefit high school students in Jamestown, can be mailed to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary.
He was born on January 1, 1937, in Blair, Nebraska, the son of Owen Charles and Leacy Lee (Brizendine) Klatt.
Kermit grew up in Jamestown, Missouri and was a 1955 graduate of Jamestown High School and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jamestown.
It was during his time in high school that he met the love of his life, Velma Jean Sapp. They were married on August 14, 1955, in Jamestown and they were blessed with 66 years of marriage. Kermit loved to celebrate life’s milestones with family and was so proud of his 50th, 60th and 65th wedding anniversaries to his high school sweetheart.
Kermit was employed in retail management throughout the Midwest for over 50 years. He specialized in building large farm and home supply stores from the inside out, organizing merchandise, stocking shelves, hiring staff, and managing them for the first few years. He built and successfully managed Orscheln stores throughout Missouri, Illinois, and Minnesota. He eventually retired from management and moved back to central Missouri to be closer to family.
Kermit never really retired from his retail career because he truly had a servant’s heart. He was passionate about helping people and had a tremendous work ethic. Once he and his wife moved back to central Missouri, Kermit began working at Lowe’s Home Improvement store and cherished the relationships he made with coworkers and customers. At his home, he often used a walker to get around, however, when he was at Lowe’s he put that walker aside, and used a shopping cart, where he then gained the nickname “Kermit the Cart Man”. Many customers and associates loved being greeted by him and enjoyed seeing his warm smile. He preferred working in the afternoons and evenings when there was always more action around the store and was often found in the plumbing aisle where he knew the exact spot of everything. He worked this position for 20 years until poor health forced him to slow down in April 2021 at the age of 85.
Kermit’s family was always his priority. Whether he was following his grandkids on the football field, basketball court, baseball field or in their academic endeavors, he wanted to learn as much as he could so that he could share his pride with others. His own fondest memories were of his Canadian fishing trip, his farm pond fishing days and rabbit hunts with his children.
He is survived by: his loving wife, Jean Klatt; four children, Kenneth Klatt (Jeanne) of Springfield, IL., Randell Klatt (Janet) of Charlotte, NC., Stephanie Kemple of Jefferson City, MO. and Timothy Klatt (Becca) of Springfield, IL.; three siblings Jana Faye Johnson (Bud) of Morris, IL., Karen Platter of Russellville, MO. and Kathy Flippin (Daryl) of Jamestown, MO.; nine grandchildren, Joshua Klatt (Nikki), Jaime Teel (Trent), Sheila Berhorst (Bill), Nicole Likes (Philip), Payton Klatt (Emily), Carlyon Klatt, Jordan Kemple, Dalton Klatt and Nolan Klatt; and seven great-grandchildren, Cadance Klatt, Carter Klatt, Keaton Teel, Conner Berhorst, Sophia Berhorst, Evan Teel and Camden Teel.
Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Velma Vesta Sapp; father-in-law, James Guy Sapp; and son-in-law, Randy Kemple.
Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2022, in the Freeman Chapel with the Chaplain Jim Mueller officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery in Jamestown, MO.
A webcast of Mr. Klatt’s service will begin at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday for friends that are not able to attend by going to the "photos and videos" tab of this page and scrolling down to the webcasting link.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Kermit Klatt Scholarship Fund, which will benefit high school students in Jamestown, can be mailed to P.O. Box 95, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary.