Grainnet

Ralph Klopfenstein, a long-time leader in the grain industry, high-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and former president of the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI), died March 6 at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Normal, IL following an extended illness. He was 80.

A native of Gridley, IL, Klopfenstein was involved in various aspects of the grain industry for 45 years.

He operated Klopfenstein Grain Co. in Gridley for eight years, and during that time served as GFAI president and as a director of the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).

His career also included positions with Continental Grain Co. in Chicago, IL, and for 15 years, he served as CEO of the former Heinold Commodities, a large international futures brokerage firm.

In 1983, he accompanied Agriculture Secretary John Block as business advisor on a 15-day trade and diplomatic mission to six countries in Central and South America.

He was a member of Gov.-elect Jim Thompson's transition team in 1978 and vice chairman of U.S. Sen. Charles Percy's senatorial campaign in 1984.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan named Klopfenstein to serve as USDA deputy administrator of commodities, and he worked and resided in Washington, DC until 1991.

In 1993, he traveled to Hungary on behalf of USDA to help transform the post-Communist agricultural grain marketing system into a free enterprise system.

He received the Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph newspaper's "Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year" award in 1978 and USDA's Administrator's Award in 1988 for "Outstanding Service to Agriculture."

Klopfenstein was a frequent guest lecturer at several universities including Harvard Business School and Dartmouth College and served on numerous political, civic, and community committees.

He also founded and owned Big Rock Estates, a residential subdivision on Gridley, and was involved in family farming operations.

Visitation has been scheduled from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 23, and for one hour prior to the funeral service at Ruestman-Harris Funeral Home in El Paso, IL.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, March 24, at Gridley Apostolic Christian Church, with church ministers officiating.

Burial will be in Gridley Cemetery.

Klopfenstein was born Aug. 27, 1927, the sone of Elmer Jay and Anna Gramm Klopfenstein.

He married M. Catherine Slagell on June 2, 1945, who survives.

Also surviving are four sone, Cleve (Kathleen), Peoria, IL; Martin and Stanley, both of Bloomington; and David (Linda), Normal; three dauters, Gloria Volk, Normal; Judy (David) Knobloch, Bloomington; and Cathy (Tim) Hohulin, Roanoke, IL; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lynn (Miriam), Decatur, AL; and Perry (Carol), Gridley; two sisters, Alice (Keith) Stevig, Morton, IL; and Ada (Jerry) Christensen, Gridley; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Klopfenstein, Tallahassee, FL.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jay.

Memorial gifts may be made to Apostolic Christian Church, 319 E. Seventh St., Gridley, IL 61744, or to Southern Illinois University Foundation, P.O. Box 19666, Springfield, IL 62794 (for Lewy Body Disease research).

On-line condolences can be sent to his family by e-mail.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI)

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