Funeral services for Arlan Leroy &8220;Jake&8221; Kleinbeck, will be held on Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 S. Washington Ave., with the Rev. Curtis Zieske officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home and at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at North Freeborn Lutheran Cemetery near Clarks Grove. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Post 56, Albert Lea.

Arlan was born in Mapleton on Nov. 13, 1935, to Harvey and Rose (Burmeister) Kleinbeck. As a child, he attended elementary school in Mapleton.

Arlan&8217;s mother died when he was 10 and he then made his home with his sister and her husband, Arladene and LeRoy Sohre of Good Thunder. He graduated from Good Thunder High School in 1953. Following graduation, he attended Mankato Commercial College and was employed at the Mankato Paper Box Co.

In 1958, he entered the Army and spent most of his time in Zirndorf, Germany. While in the service, Arlan used all of his leave time to travel throughout Europe. Following discharge he enrolled at Mankato State University and graduated in 1964 with a degree in elementary education and special education.

Later, he also received his Master’s Degree in Education from Mankato State University.

On June 6, 1970, he married Betty Anderson at Salem Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They have lived in the same home since their marriage and were blessed with three children.

He began his teaching career in the Albert Lea School District and continued there until his retirement in 1997. His first teaching position was teaching migrant children in Hollandale. Later, he taught sixth grade at both Clarks Grove and Hayward. When the rural schools closed, he finished out his career teaching fifth grade at Hawthorne Elementary in Albert Lea.

After retirement, he worked part time for Top of Iowa Wholesale in Northwood. He had also been a manager/instructor of Mid-Southern Driving School.

As a teacher, Arlan was very active serving on many committees in professional organizations. While teaching in Clarks Grove and Hayward, he served as president of their PTA. He was also very active in the support organizations in whatever sport his children were participating.

Arlan was also a very active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served on the council on three different occasions, serving as council president, vice-president, and secretary. He also served as youth advisor, Sunday School superintendent, Sunday School teacher, and was a member of the church choir, and many other committees. His favorite volunteer time at the church was working in the kitchen.

Arlan’s favorite pastimes were watching his children grow from one state of life to another.

He also loved spending time with his grandson, his gardening, and especially being in the kitchen cooking.

Arlan is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Betty; two daughters, Charla (Jeremy) DePoppe of Mason City, Iowa, and Kristi Kleinbeck of Chicago, Ill.; one son Ryan Kleinbeck and his fiancee’ Ashley Kruger of Hartland; one grandson, River Riley DePoppe of Mason City, Iowa; mother-in-law, Mae Anderson of Albert Lea; sister and brother-in-law Arladene (LeRoy) Sohre of Good Thunder; nephews Dean (Laureen) Sohre, Loren (Diane) Sohre, all of Good Thunder, Lynn Sohre of St. Peter; Gary (Sue) Arp of Albert Lea; and one niece Sandra (Howard) Kantack of Bemidji; his special buddies Elvis and Lexie; and countless friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, father-in-law, Hartvick Anderson, and a nephew, Dale Sohre.