Cathleen 'Dude' Pollack Kloiber
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mom, Cathy "Dude" Kloiber of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, who passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
Cathy was born on March 18, 1936, in Eveleth, Minn., and raised with her eight siblings. She took great pride in being an Iron Ranger. She was a drum majorette in high school and attended Eveleth Community College, where she was also crowned homecoming queen. After community college, she attended Minneapolis Business College before returning to Eveleth to marry the love of her life, Bob Kloiber. They shared 58 wonderful years of marriage until Bob's passing in 2015. The couple moved to Coon Rapids, Minnesota, in 1960 and lived there since.
After raising their children, Bob and Cathy enjoyed traveling, skiing in the winter, sailing their sailboat in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior during the summer, and attending Minnesota Vikings games in the fall. After retirement, they became snowbirds in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where several lifelong friends also relocated.
She was "Nana" to her one and only grandson, Grant, whom she adored. Cathy and Bob never missed a sporting event, concert, or ceremony that Grant participated in while he was in school.
Cathy was remarkably independent-a feminist before her time. She began working full time in 1965, when most women in the neighborhood were stay-at-home moms. She served as executive assistant to three different CEOs at Anoka Electric Cooperative/Connexus for more than 30 years. After retirement, she worked part time during the holidays at Dayton's/Macy's and later Coldwater Creek-mainly for the camaraderie with co-workers and the employee discount.
Always a bit of a fashionista, Cathy was known for her impeccable style, complete with matching shoes and accessories. She was also an avid sewer, making many of her own clothes and her daughters' clothes until she taught Cory to sew her own.
Cathy was always there with guidance, support, and wisdom. She never asked for much and always made time for family and friends. A passionate reader, she was constantly eager to learn something new. Visitors to her home were treated every hour to the chorus of her ten chiming clocks, each slightly staggered by a minute or two.
She was an expert cleaner of all things and was often consulted about how to remove stains. Cathy also had a sweet tooth-she rarely turned down dessert when dining out and never bypassed a candy dish. She faithfully volunteered at her church, tying quilts, counting money, and sewing Little Dresses for Africa.
Cathy is survived by her children, Cory (Dave) Knapp and Kevin (Stefani) Kloiber; her grandson, Grant (Brynna) Knapp; brothers Joe (Rozanne) Pollack and Jim (Donna) Pollack; sisters-in-law Ione Pollack, Anna Pollack and Karrin Kloiber; brother-in-law Ralph (Sonja) Kloiber; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She will also be dearly missed by her grand-dog, Oliver ("Ollie").
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob Kloiber; in-laws Ed and Mae Kloiber; siblings Dolly (Emil) Pokorny, Mucca (Doris) Pollack, Tom Pollack, Nick Pollack, Jack Pollack, and Mary Jane (Joe) Jagunich; and brother-in-law Ray Kloiber.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Caring and Sharing Hands (
www.sharingandcaringhands.org) or Glen Cary Lutheran Church (
www.glencary.com).
The world will not be the same without you, Cathy. You will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved you.
Services on October 17, 2025, at Glen Cary Lutheran Church Ham Lake, Minn. 10:00-11:00am Visitation, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Memorial service, 12:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m. Celebration of Life Bunker Hills Event Center.
Published by Mesabi Tribune from Sep. 19 to Sep. 20, 2025.