Benson veteran who served in post-WWII Japan was ‘a friend to everyone he met’ | State and Area News
OMAHA – Around Lewis Klanderud, no one remained a stranger for long.
It didn’t matter whether you were training alongside her in the Philippines for post-WWII occupation duty, another patron of the Nifty Bar, her longtime haunt in Benson, or a nurse at an Omaha hospital during the last week of his life.
“He was very nice. He would be a friend to everyone he met,” said Susan Adamson, Klanderud’s daughter.
He died on June 25 at the age of 97.
Klanderud grew up on a farm in rural Cedar County and graduated from Wynot High School. He joined the army in March 1945. After boot camp, he returned to Nebraska to marry his beloved, Lucille DePue, just as the Japanese surrendered to end World War II.
Klanderud was therefore trained as an engineer and sent to Okinawa – which had been destroyed in the last major land battle of the war – to help rebuild the island’s roads.
People also read…
Adamson said he enjoyed his training in the Philippines.
“He met a lot of wonderful Filipinos,” she said.
Klanderud was released at the end of 1946, moving to Council Bluffs and later to Hartington. The couple had a son and three daughters.
He passed the civil service exam in 1952 and moved to Omaha. For years he worked on a mail train that ran from Omaha to Cheyenne, Wyoming, part of a crew that picked up mail from small towns along the way and sorted it along the way.
“He also did a lot of odd jobs,” Adamson said. “He was good at carpentry. He painted a lot. »
After trucks replaced mail trains in the 1960s, Klanderud worked for the post office in finance. He retired in 1984 but continued to participate in a coffee group for mail train retirees.
Klanderud loved fishing. Every year he and a few buddies would take a long fishing trip to Canada, then he would come back and host a fish fry for the extended family. He also enjoyed taking his wife and children camping across the West in a pop-up trailer.
“He was a great family member,” Adamson said.
Klanderud was active in the American Legion and VFW, and was selected to the Forty and Eight Club, an honor society which was an offshoot of the Legion. He also participated in the Heartland Honor Flights, an effort in 2008-09 that brought hundreds of World War II soldiers to Washington.
Although his eyesight gradually faded due to macular degeneration, Adamson said he continued to fish until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. And his mind remained sharp.
“Last week at the hospital he was talking to all the nurses,” she said. “He wanted to know where they came from. He asked questions about their lives.
Services were held June 29 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where Klanderud was a longtime member. He was buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park next to Lucille, who died in 2006. He was also predeceased by his sisters, Dorothy and Marguerite; his son, Tim; and her granddaughter, Hayley Fausset.
He is survived by his daughters, Keri Comfort, Susan Adamson and Judy Fausset; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Best Journal Star Photos for June
A rancher takes a load while waiting for an auction during the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Ball at the Cass County Fairgrounds on Saturday June 4, 2022 in Weeping Water, NE. The annual fundraiser moves around the state and is held in a new location each year. KENNETH FERRIERA, Lincoln Journal star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
North’s Kamden Dusatko (middle) and his teammates celebrate their win over South in the Shrine Bowl on Saturday June 4, 2022 at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Nebraska football head coach Scott Frost speaks with rookies to wrap up Friday Night Lights camp at Memorial Stadium on Friday, June 3, 2022. JAIDEN TRIPI, Journal Star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Tire tracks mark the surface of the Kohls parking lot at the corner of 84th and W Streets in this aerial view from Thursday, June 2, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Lincoln Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
A memorial to the victims of a May 29 crash is erected on the main street of O Street at the crash site, Thursday, June 2, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Lincoln Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
A family-style seafood broth, mixed with butter and Cajun seasonings, is complemented by New Orleans-style drinks at Bourbon Street by Single Barrel, located in the downtown Haymarket, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Jason Hellmuth, Lincoln Police Officer and instigator of CSI, talks about using various lights to inspect crime scenes during Bridging the Gap, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
JUSTIN WAN, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Daniel Bartek basks by the waters of Lake Holmes after a long day at work on Friday, June 10, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Carpet Land’s Caden Cetak (left) slides for home as Judds Brothers’ Chase Blanchard scores him during the annual Mike Peterson/Coach K Legion Tournament Championship game on Sunday, June 11, 2022, at Den Hartog Field. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
New Kids on the Block will perform on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Nebraska offensive linemen Kevin Williams Jr (center) huddle with campers before taking a break during a football camp held at the Lincoln Sports Foundation field on Saturday, June 11, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Spectators watch the purebred swine being showcased Saturday, June 11, 2022 at the Cornhusker Classic Swine Show at Saunders County Fairgrounds in Wahoo. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

A cyclist rides past a field of wildflowers on a section of the Mopac Bikeway near Vine Street on Friday, June 10, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Union Bank’s Reese Kortum throws the ball past a Millard North batter during a Mike Peterson/Coach K Legion Tournament game Friday, June 10, 2022, at Densmore Field. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Anderson Ford’s Braeden Sunken bats in the third inning of a Mike Peterson Tournament Legion baseball game against Millard North on Friday, June 10, 2022 at Densmore Park. GWYNETH ROBERTS, newspaper star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, newspaper star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
The flyover that will connect US 77 to the South Beltway has steel girders in place the entire west-east distance on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, newspaper star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Lincoln Salt Dogs left fielder Randy Norris dives but misses the catch after a long ball hit by Chicago Dog’s Grant Kay (not pictured) in the second inning at Haymarket Park on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Members of a Pride Colors Guard perform their routine during the second Star City Pride Parade at the Capitol on Saturday, June 18, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Campers participate in drills during Nebraska football camp Friday, June 17, 2022 at Memorial Stadium. JAIDEN TRIPI, newspaper star
JAIDEN TRIPI Journal Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Jake Owen performs alongside his band during a performance at the Pinewood Bowl in Pioneers Park on Thursday, June 16, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Nebraska freshman guard Callin Hake gets a high five from head women’s basketball coach Amy Williams during practice Thursday, June 15, 2022, at Hendricks Training Complex. GWYNETH ROBERTS, newspaper star
GWYNETH ROBERTS, newspaper star
Best Journal Star Photos for June
Former Husker Jordan Larson demonstrates during a volleyball camp, Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at Kinetic Sports Complex. JUSTIN WAN, Newspaper Star
JUSTIN WAN, Newspaper Star
Best Journal Star Photos for June

Trent Claus, VFX supervisor and animation art collector, remembers some of his art on a couch from watching the Saturday morning cartoons at the Eisentrager/Howard Gallery at Richards Hall on the campus of the UNL on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Étoile
KENNETH FERRIERA, Newspaper Star
Comments are closed.