Harold "Bud" Klaus

Harold “Bud” Klaus, 81 of Greeley, died on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at his home. Bud was born at the family farm northeast of Windsor, March 16, 1930. At that time, the small settlement was known as, Bracewell which consisted of a store and school. Bud attended the Bracewell School thru 8th grade, and graduated from Windsor High School in 1947. Bud enrolled into Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in June of 1951. Ten days after graduation Bud was bound for Lackland Air force base in Texas where he served our country for two years. After an honorable discharge from military service Bud returned to the family farm in 1953. Bud married Donna Johnson in September of 1958. Together they raised two children, Lynne and Lee. They continued the farm operation, raising and feeding cattle until Donna’s death in 1985. In 1988 Bud met Betty Haddorff. The two were married in October of that year. They continued to live at the farm until retirement in 2005 when they moved to Greeley. Bud loved to attend auctions, starting in the early years in relation to his cattle business. But later he was a regular attendee at the local Friday night affair searching for old items to repair and bring to new life. During these days Bud could be found busy in his shop transforming old or broken objects into items of beauty and usefulness. Many friends and family have benefitted from his clever and thoughtful “resurrection skills.” Today they call it “re-purposing,” simply a new word for what Bud had discovered years before, engaged in this gratifying process of bringing old things to life. Anyone who knew Bud knows that he was a man of conviction and unwavering Christian faith. He served as a Sunday school teacher, trustee, board chair person, deacon, and elder at both Bethel Baptist Church and then later at St. Paul’s Congregational Church. He especially enjoyed doing work to help others. He and his wife Betty were later commissioned by the church to visit home-bound and people in special need. They continued with this ministry for many years. Over the years Bud enjoyed writing Christmas letters, some of which were published in The Greeley Tribune. One such letter from 2000 sums up Bud’s faith and overwhelming gratefulness to God. “How we embrace by faith the Lord, we go from darkness to light, from bondage to liberty, from death to life, we go from perishable to imperishable, from corruptible to incorruptible, and mortal to immortal. We go from rebellion to reconciliation, from wretchedness to righteousness, from ruin to ransom, from rejection to reunion, from rags to robes, from wrath to riches, and retribution to rewards.” One thought and important value from Bud’s life that he wanted to leave behind was, ”It is important what we do for others but it is most important what our Lord Jesus has done for us.” Survivors include his wife, Betty Klaus of Greeley; a daughter, Lynne Klaus of Denver; a son and his wife, Lee and Priscilla Klaus of Draper, Utah; 3 stepsons, Michael Haddorff and wife Sandra of Ft. Collins, David Haddorff of New Jersey and Christopher Haddorff of Greeley; a brother, Robert Klaus of Dallas, Texas; 2 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Wilma Klaus. A memorial service to celebrate Bud’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 19, 2011 at St. Paul’s Congregational Church, 1525 43rd Avenue in Greeley. A private family graveside service with military honors will be held at Linn Grove Cemetery. Private family visitation will be held. Donations can be made in Bud’s name to St. Paul’s Congregational Church or Hospice & Palliative Care of Northern Colorado. They can be sent in care of Moser Funeral Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.

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Harold "Bud" Klaus

March 16, 1930 - August 16, 2011