Gerald "Bud" Cloos

A Veteran died today.

Gerald “Bud” Cloos, age 91, of Big Stone City, SD, passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at Orton’s Crossing Neighborhood at Fairway View in Ortonville, MN.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018, at 10:30a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 5 to 7p.m. at the church with rosary to follow at the church. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Monday. Padre David Garza will celebrate the mass and interment will be in the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery.

Gerald Lynn Cloos was born on October 20, 1926, at the Linden Beach Resort Hotel near Corona, SD, to Allen and Elizabeth (Scoblic) Cloos. He lived with his parents at Linden Beach and attended country school through 8th grade.

In 1944, Gerald enlisted in the Navy. The family moved with him to Bremerton, WA. He served as a guard on the SS Northwestern Victory ammunition ship and as a Navy Cook on the USS LST 761 ship and earned the rank of SC 3rd Class USNR. Gerald served on those ships during World War II earning an Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, an American Area Campaign Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal.

Gerald served in the Navy until 1946, then returned home to the Big Stone City area. He went to work at Hunter’s granite quarry during that time. Gerald was united in marriage with Jeanne Hublou on June 22, 1948, and they moved to Minneapolis. He attended Dunwoody Institute for autobody. While attending Dunwoody Institute, he worked nights at Stevens Buick.

Gerald and his family moved back to Big Stone City where the Cloos brothers started a blacksmith and body shop and purchased a filling station. He worked nights at the cheese factory and the canning factory as well. In 1963, Gerald was appointed Postmaster by President John F. Kennedy remaining in that position for 27 years. Over the years, he worked nights for area farmers doing field work. He and his brother, Jack owned and operated a fire cracker stand for many years.

Gerald enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of the Big Stone City American Legion for 47 years and served as a commander. He was also on the Big Stone Fire Department and served as Fire Chief for many years.

Left to cherish his memory are his four daughters: Cherrie Cloos (Shirley Johnson), Liane (Paul) Rausch, Becky (Craig) Wellnitz, and Jackie (Randy) Prasnicki; 16 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sisters-in-law, Beverly Cloos and Betty Hublou; brother-in-law, Stuart Deal; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Gerald in death are his parents; wife, Jeanne in 2001; and brothers, John and Eugene Cloos.