Louis "L. Joe" Claeys

Mass of Christian Burial for Louis “L. Joe” Claeys will be held at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall on Friday, November 8th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the CCW Rosary at 4 p.m. and the Prayer Service at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Remembrance Center. Interment with military honors will take place at St. Eloi Catholic Cemetery in Ghent.

Louis Joseph “L. Joe” Claeys, age 99 of Marshall, formerly of Ghent, passed away on Sunday, November 3rd at Prairie Home Hospice Lockwood House surrounded by his loving family. L. Joe was born March 5th, 1925, to Louis H. and Elizabeth (Engels) Claeys. The second of three sons, L. Joe was baptized and confirmed at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. He graduated 8th grade from St. Agnes School at St. Eloi Parish in Ghent in 1939 and Minneota High School in 1943. After graduation, L. Joe spent two years in the Navy where he served as a quartermaster on a ship in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. After an honorable discharge, he returned home and farmed with his parents and brothers. L. Joe was united in marriage to the love of his life, Betty Ann Opdahl on May 20th, 1947, at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. This union was blessed with seven children. L. Joe and Betty farmed all their married life southwest of Ghent and moved from their homeplace to Boulder Estates in 2017. They celebrated more than 71 years of marriage before Betty passed away in February 2019. 

L. Joe was passionate about his Catholic faith, attending mass and praying the rosary often. His family was very important to him. Up until his death, he saw his children daily either in person, by Facetime or phone call and always said “I love you” when saying good-bye. He loved farming, including raising livestock in his early years and crop farming with his sons until his retirement in 1992. In later years, he planted and tended to a large vegetable garden and shared the produce with family and friends. L. Joe and Betty were beautiful dancers and enjoyed many years of square dancing and dancing to old-time music. Over the years, L. Joe and Betty enjoyed many fishing trips to Northern Minnesota and Canada and were blessed to have traveled to many locations around the world. L. Joe also played in a competitive pool league for many years. As L. Joe eased into retirement, he and Betty began wintering in Alamo, TX and for over 25 years they danced, golfed and played card games with friends. 

L. Joe is survived by his children: Susan (Allan) Orsen of Victoria, Barb Leibfried of Shakopee, Nancy (Steve) Boerboom of Ghent, Bernie (Margene) Claeys of Ghent, Louie Claeys (Mark Aberle) of Ghent, Matt (Suzanne) Claeys of Long Lake, and Paul (Sharon) Claeys of Ghent. His 14 grandchildren: Jenny (Christopher) Norgaard and Nick (Jen) Orsen; Tom Leibfried, Erin (Tye) Ferguson, Alissa (Kyle) Haack, and John Paul (Emily) Leibfried; Bill (Missy) Boerboom, Wade (Joy) Boerboom, Sonya (Dustin) Vierstraete, and Lori Dubbeldee (fiancé Tyler), Krystal (Chris) Lindquist, Jacob (Bridget) Claeys, Lindsay (Ben) Tippetts, and Joe (Katelyn) Claeys.  His 38 great-grandchildren: Addie and Gunnar Norgaard, Sophie and Mia Orsen, Carly (Jake) Robinson, Lex (Adrianna) Leibfried, Ariana Leibfried, Jack and Lucy Ferguson, John Henry, Grace, and Luke Leibfried, Tallulah Haack, Cody (Kallie) Boerboom, Dylan and Wyatt Boerboom, Katie (Lucas) Smidt, Belle (PJ Bot) and Sam Dieken, Jackson, Jonah, and Jesse Vierstraete, Tori and Tiffany Dubbeldee; Katelyn, Jordynn, Caden, Bella, and Leah Lindquist, Olivia, Vance, Devyn, and Ivory Claeys, Reba, Matt, Ellie, and Abbie Tippetts, and Anna Marie Claeys. His 5 great-great-grandchildren: Ryan and Riley Robinson, Matteo Leibfried and Brock Leibfried, Madden Smidt. L. Joe is also survived by his brother Jim Claeys of Marshall; in-laws Doris Claeys of Madison, Char Opdahl of Des Moines, Mike and Norma Opdahl of Spicer, Bill Drown of Marshall; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

L. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Betty; his parents Louis and Elizabeth; brother Don; in-laws Julia Claeys, Harold Jr. and Sandy Opdahl, Elaine Opdahl, Bob and Clarone Williams, Sharlene Drown, Dan Opdahl; son-in-law Doug Leibfried, grandson Chad Leibfried; great-grandson Carter Boerboom, many other relatives and friends.