Frank Klaphake

Frank B. "Frankie" Klaphake, age 94 of Melrose, died Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Ken Thielman officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose.

Frank Klaphake was born November 29, 1912 in St. Martin, Minnesota to Fred and Veronica (Kersting) Klaphake. On April 29, 1941 he married Alvina "Vinie" Welle in Melrose. The couple farmed one mile north of Melrose. Frankie enjoyed old time music, dancing, and golf. He always had a smile for anyone waiting to share. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Meadowlark Country Club in Melrose and the 4-H Club.

Survivors include his wife, Alvina "Vinie" Klaphake of Melrose; sons, Roger Klaphake and his wife, Carol of Cold Spring, Ronald Klaphake and his wife, Penny of Peoria, AZ, and Gary Klaphake and his wife, Carolyn of Lafayette, CO; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Frankie was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, William, Lawrence, Mathias, and Theodore Klaphake; and sister, Magdalen Wiener.