Dr. Gary “Doc” H. Kluever, DVM, 80, of Atlantic and Nevada, Iowa, died on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at Lady Lake, Florida.
Doc was born on November 22, 1941 in Atlantic, Iowa to J. Howard and Marguerite (Smith) Kluever. He joined his sister, Connie, and grew up on Walnut Street next door to Dr. Orville Hillhouse, a local veterinarian. At a very early age, Doc developed a healthy admiration and love for Doc and Mary Lou Hillhouse. They were like a second family to him, teaching him how to serve others while going on calls all over Cass County and working in their clinic located on 4th and Elm Street. He learned the value of hard work, the importance of good client relationships, and looking at a problem from every angle. He would keep these skills for the remainder of his life. He enjoyed playing football, baseball and trombone for Atlantic High School. Following graduating in 1959, he attended Iowa State University where he earned his B.S. in Animal Science. He was an active member of Farm House Fraternity. He applied and was accepted to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1962 and graduated in 1966 ready to practice veterinary medicine.
Gary met the love his life while at Atlantic High School. He was 16 and Sherry was 14 when they started dating and never stopped. They attended all the school functions together and went to the movies at The Atlantic Theatre. They married on August 22, 1964, after Sherry finished nurses training while Gary was in Vet school.
Doc Kluever first practiced in Washington, Iowa and Marcus, Iowa. In 1974 Gary and Sherry moved back to Atlantic and built their home on the Kluever family land where they raised their 3 children. Gary began work with Dr Keith Leonard and Dr Richard Odgaard at the Atlantic Animal Health Center. In 1975, Doc took over the Hillhouse practice and worked alongside Mary Lou. He tirelessly served his clients, night and day, for over 20 years. After closing his practice, he worked for Continental Feed and Grain and Hubbard Feed and Grain. He served as an advisor for swine health and nutrition. He taught classes to farmers and salesman on how to maximize their product and operation. Gary had a love for the Lord and used his opportunity in this capacity to spread the word of Jesus. He began every one of his classes with Psalm 118:24 “Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”. Every day, Doc rejoiced and was glad, he is well known for living by his words! He ended his long career working in various capacities for the government and really enjoyed a special assignment in California working with the Avian Flu in birds. He will always be remembered as a hard-working, respected, intelligent man who was generous with his time, skills and resources.
While in Atlantic, Doc was active in the ISU Alumni Association, 4H, Cass County Fair Board, served as a Cass County and Iowa State Fair Veterinarian, board member at the Zion Lutheran Church, and an avid Chicago Cubs and ISU Cyclones fan. When he wasn’t working or volunteering, Doc could be found on adventures with his family, playing bridge with friends, golfing, or enjoying a fishing trip to Canada.
After Doc’s retirement, he increased his number of fishing trips to Canada and traveled on a more regular basis. Gary and Sherry have enjoyed many trips to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, and New York City to visit his sister, Connie. Gary has always had a love for American history and studying Native American cultures. He has had trips all over the United States to as many historical sites as they could fit in. The couple enjoyed attending Broadway shows, symphonies, choral concerts, ballet, and many Civic Center events.
As a husband and father, Doc was relentlessly happy, humorous, dedicated and loving. His children remember him for working hard but always making time to have fun. They loved learning about agriculture, animals, and science from him. He could never get enough of his grandkids and he often was heard expressing his affection for them and the rest of his family.
He is survived by his wife, Sherry (Knop) Kluever of Nevada, Iowa; son, Darren Kluever; daughter, Lynne Kluever; son, Christopher (Kim) Kluever; grandchildren, Haley (Ben) Valkema, Christian Kluever, and Callan Kluever; in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, J. Howard and Marguerite Kluever; and sister, Connie Kluever.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 4, 2022, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa. A short visitation with family present will be held from 9:30 a.m. to the time of service.
Open visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 4, 2022, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.
A second funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. Burial will be at Atlantic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa. Family invites attendees back to the Zion Lutheran Church fellowship hall for refreshments following the burial.
Memorials may be made to the family for later designation to the Atlantic Food Pantry or scholarship fund for Iowa State University Department of Veterinary Medicine.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Doc’s family and his arrangements.
