- 1955 - 2022 -
Dr. Lloyd Herbert Kloppe, DVM, DACT, passed away peacefully at his home in Buckeye, Arizona, Sunday, July 24, 2022, 12 days after his 67th birthday. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Lloyd was the son of Herbert and Pauline Kloppe and was raised in New Haven. He is survived by his wife, Jana; son, Bryan; daughter-in-law, Amy; granddaughter, Taylor; siblings, Larry Kloppe and wife Lana, Barb Scheer and husband Ralph, and Wayne Kloppe and wife Kathy; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Lloyd graduated with New Haven High School's Class of 1972 and went on to earn a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri, Class of 1980. After four years in mixed-animal private practice in Arizona, Lloyd went on to complete a residency in large animal reproduction at Texas A&M University and was elected a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. In 1988, both Lloyd and Jana opened Durango Equine Veterinary Clinic and Command Performance Horse Farms in Buckeye, Arizona. Together they built, owned and managed the practice and farms. Lloyd served as a member of the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board from 1995 through 2000, and was awarded the Arizona Equine Practitioner of the Year in 1997. He served as the Society for Theriogenology's conference chairman in 1998, and president in 1998 and 1999. Between 2011 and 2014, he served as a board member of his specialty organization, the American College of Theriogenologists.
He was loved by his employees, colleagues and clients, who considered him a friend. He mentored many veterinarians and regularly hosted students at the clinic, but never missed one of Bryan's baseball games, swim meets, band concerts, phone calls or the chance to play catch or hit in the batting cage. He also volunteered to coach Bryan's teams through little league. He enjoyed traveling the world alongside Jana and Bryan, making family time and experiences with them his top priority. He was an excellent downhill snow skier, frequently visiting Whistler Mountain in Canada, and an avid sports fan. His favorite sport was baseball, and he held season tickets for the Diamondbacks from their inaugural season in 1998 until his passing, highlighted by attending 75 games (including the World Series victory) with his family in 2001. He also enjoyed running, hiking and adventuring, and finished his first of eight marathons at the age of 55. He then hiked and summited a 14,000-foot peak in Colorado, went skydiving with daughter-in-law, Amy, and also managed in one day to complete the 28-mile "Rim-to-Rim"? hike of the Grand Canyon. The latter feat was accomplished just one month before undergoing surgery for the rare form of brain cancer which took his life. He was blessed to know his granddaughter, Taylor, and read stories to her every chance that he could.
Lloyd always loved to serve at church, supporting the start of both Christ's Church of the Valley and Refinery Christian Church, and frequented mission trips with a desire to help those both in his community and in other countries. He was generous to all people with both his time and finances. As a leader, instead of commanding those around him, he led by his passionate example of hard work and inspired those around him to both fulfilling work and better lives. He had a brilliant way of teaching through demonstration with such incredible patience, kindness and humility that it would be easy to be unaware that he was passing on so much knowledge. Those close to him came to believe that the Lord must have given him more time in the day than most and would agree that he spent this time both wisely and unselfishly.
It is difficult to do justice to a man who was as close to perfect as it gets. Lloyd Herbert Kloppe was a great man and a humble servant leader who lived out the words of the Bible, without fear, and possessed a genius of simplicity even in the most difficult situations and trying times. He surrounded himself with amazing friends. His judgment was trusted by all. He lived life to the fullest as an inspiration, mentor and friend. He never spoke a bad word about anyone or complained, even during his hardfought cancer battle. We have also yet to find anyone with a bad word to say about him. The joy in his eyes radiated his love for life, family, friends, animals and the Lord. His legacy lives on, leaving the world a better place.
Visitation will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, New Haven, Saturday, July 30, from 9-11 a.m., with a funeral service following at 11 a.m.
Burial will be at the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Arrangement are under the direction of Toedtmann- Grosse Funeral Home, New Haven.
Published by The Missourian on Jul. 30, 2022.