Gilbert's Klobuchar brothers killed three months apart in World War II

GILBERT—George and Mark Klobuchar’s sister, Mary Ann (Klobuchar) Snyder, lived to be 101, and her obituary in 2012 read, “In 1992, the VFW named Mary a Gold Star Sister for her two brothers, Mark and George Klobuchar, who were both killed in Europe while in service during World War II.”

The Klobuchar family had 13 children.

The Gilbert post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars would be named for the Klobuchar brothers.

As Gene “Che-Che” Lopp wrote in a history of the Gilbert VFW, “one member “felt that since we had lost 32 comrades in the war (World War II) it would not be fair to single anyone out even though they were two brothers (George and Mark Klobuchar).”

A first choice was “Arrowhead,” but the national VFW officials said the name was already being used.

Eventually it became the George and Mark Klobuchar post, “which it should have been named originally,” Lopp wrote.

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SGT George Joseph Klobuchar was born March 31, 1920, in Gilbert and was killed in Lorraine, France, November 30, 1944. He was 24

PFC Mark Andrew Klobuchar was born June 18, 1925, and was killed in World War II February 19, 1945. He was only 19.

And the brothers died just three months apart. They were eventually buried in Gilbert.

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They were the sons of Louis Klobuchar, 1883—1946, and Mary Rade Klobuchar, 1889—1971.

Their brothers and sisters were:

Mary Ann Klobuchar Snyder

1910—2012

Joseph Martin Klobuchar

1913—2006

John Frank Klobuchar

1915—1991

Jack Mirko Klobuchar

1916—2006

Katherine Frances Klobuchar Bilas

1918—2014

Anne M Klobuchar

1923—2022

Katherine, Ann, Margaret and Louis.

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The Gilbert men who died in World War II:

Theodore Ahlin and Andrew Barle, Robert Brady, Thomas Curley and John Debelak.

John Ercegovich and John E. Grahek, Filmer Heikkila, Rudolph Indihar and Olaf Johnson.

Ray Kaivos and Roy A. Kallio, brothers George Klobuchar and Mark Klobuchar, John Komatar and Arne A. Korpi and Donald Kraker and Tony Krezel.

Russell Maki and Lloyd Nicholas, Ernest Ojala and Arvo Ranta.

Matt Spanko and Tony Sternisha, Veikko Torala and Louis Trubiroha.

John Velacich and LeRoy Veralrud and Robert Wright, Andrew Zager and Ludwig Zganjar.