Jim Klodt was born on August 30, 1945, and passed away on September 14, 2015, at age 70. He is survived by Susan, his wife of 47 years; sons James and Jason (Miurel) Klodt; grandchildren Mia and Maks Klodt; brothers Paul (Joan) and Denny (Wanda) Klodt; niece Cindy English (Roger); nephews David Richey and Mike Klodt (Michelle); great nephews Nathan Klodt and Buddy English; great niece Kellee Goetz (Jonathan); great great nephew Corey Goetz; great great nieces Abbee and Shylee Goetz. To those who knew him, Jim's passing came too soon. Jim met thousands in his lifetime, but no one else was ever as important to him as Susan. Together, Susan and Jim raised two loving sons, James and Jason. When Jason fell in love with his soul mate, Miurel, Jim and Susan welcomed her into the family as a daughter. Later, Jim was "over the moon" with the arrivals of grandchildren Mia, now 8, and Maks, who's now 5. They instantly became the lights of his life. If you asked him what was the best part of retirement, he would likely tell you it was babysitting his treasured grandkids. Granddaughter Mia said, "My grandpa was a great cooker. He made the best mac-n-cheese. He made the best ham, too. He was kind because he got us our food from the store. He let me help him make dinner. I love my grandpa." Jason wrote down thoughts that truly characterize the man: "Dad ... was a man that was willing to give help to anyone that asked. There was no prejudgment. He empowered people to make a simple choice to either do well with what he gave them or to screw it up. In the end it was that person's choice. There were no strings attached. ... I always enjoyed going places with him to pick up materials and ... to the banks for me to help with deposits and bill paying. I also loved when he balled out the bank for putting holds on deposits and getting them to waive the holds. ... In regards to helping others he was unselfish. I really believe he enjoyed it. And I will always remember him saying, 'I will not let anyone get screwed.' He was and will always be my Dad and my hero." He was a hero to many. James spent many times at his dad's store. James remembers ... "When I was a kid, working at the liquor store, I pushed the red button under the cash register. The police came. My dad let them lay into me about how you don't push buttons that you know not to unless it's absolutely necessary. He did that to teach me a lesson. ... We both loved baseball. Dad would take me out early from school to go to Dodger games to see Fernando pitch. We made every Dodger Opening Day for three decades. ... Dad promised that when I graduated from St. John Bosco, if there was a series at Dodger Stadium, he'd get tickets. He did! He promised to pay my way through the University of San Diego if I got accepted. I was accepted and he did! ... Dad always kept his promises." Jim was a storyteller extraordinaire. Recently, he wrote a collection of memoirs. Although his memoirs are often entertaining, they also offer insight into his personality and character. He wrote, "Sometimes we have little control over what life has in store for us. We can resist it or learn to live with it the best we can. It's how we respond that really matters." Although Jim sometimes referred to himself as a "bootlegger" (because he owned a legal liquor store) his life was one of continuous service to his family and to the many communities and organizations for which he belonged. Jim was active in the B.P.O.E. (Elks) and the Huntington Park Rotary Club. He was a native Californian, born and raised in Southgate. He performed well in school while working hard alongside his parents and his brothers, Paul and Denny, raising chickens, and helping to run their family-owned neighborhood store that his father founded in what later became a tough area. He wrote, "I was exposed to many conditions that were not considered in the realm of 'normal.' By the time I was 21, I had already known what it was to have a gun in my face and a knife at my throat. I knew the bully types and I learned not to fear them ... It could be said I was the oldest 21 year old you'd ever meet." Jim might have become a medical professional had it not been for the untimely death of his father. Jim was in the Army, where he was training to become a medic. After his father's death, Jim cared for his beloved mother and took over management of the family's business. Jim wrote, "I have always been interested in the medical field. I had been thinking about becoming a nurse, becoming a medic, and then landing in the fire department. My Dad's passing set my destiny ... I stayed loyal to my Dad's business." Through those labors from his young adulthood until he semi-retired in the '90s, Jim met thousands, many of whom came to count on him as friend, confidant, advisor or just good buddy. They included a host of colorful characters, about whom he often spoke and wrote -- fondly, for the most part. They made his life interesting, as he made theirs in return. Jim's Roman Catholic devotion was deeply rooted, and he was always active in St. Joseph's parish community together with Susan. Jim and Susan served their faith for many years, providing confirmation classes to parish youths, serving as Eucharistic ministers, helping to organize Marriage Encounter activities, and playing on the church's coed adult softball team for a couple of years. All who were touched by Jim Klodt will miss him but will also long treasure memories of the many good and important times we shared with him, his family and the members of the many communities in which he was a vital participant. As Granddaughter Mia said, "I hope he is having a great day in heaven." If you knew Jim, then you know he lived by these words from his memoirs: "I never saw myself getting accolades for doing what was right," and, "You never know how a simple act of kindness can ripple and make someone's life a little better -- even your own." Special thank-you's go out to Brittany House and to Dream Hospice Care for taking such great care of Jim.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jim Edward Klodt, please visit our flower store.
