Cletus Pfeiffer

Cletus R. Pfeiffer, 81, was called home by his Lord Jesus on October 5, 2024. He fought a courageous battle against a recently-discovered and little understood autoimmune disease, VEXAS, for several years.

Cletus was born to Erwin and Edna (Meisner) Pfeiffer on January 8, 1943 in Pocahontas, Missouri. He was baptized into the Christian faith and confirmed in his faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. While growing up on a dairy farm, he attended grades 1-8 in a single room schoolhouse at Zion Lutheran, often telling stories of how he moved back one row each year of school. He attended boarding high school and junior college at St. Paul Lutheran in Concordia, Missouri, where he made lasting friendships that endured a lifetime. Cletus then attended Concordia Teachers' College in Seward, Nebraska and received a bachelor's degree in education. It was there that he met Janice Brommer. They were married on August 8, 1965 and they were blessed with two daughters, Brenda and Benita.

Cletus dedicated his entire career, even beyond retirement, to the education, faith training, and well-being of children. He was a teacher and principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Faribault, Minnesota from 1965-1993. During these years, he earned a Master's degree and Specialist degree from Mankato State University. From there, Cletus and Jan moved to Columbus, Nebraska, where he was a teacher and principal at Immanuel Lutheran School from 1993-2000. From 2000 until his retirement in 2007, Cletus served as principal at Rochester Central Lutheran School in Rochester, Minnesota. Always eager to spread the good news of the Gospel, Cletus took every opportunity to share God's Word through teaching Bible classes, prison ministry, and serving as an elder at his church, Trinity Lutheran in Rochester.

During his retirement years, Cletus and Jan enjoyed taking road trips and cruises, their favorite destinations being Branson, Missouri and the Caribbean. Cletus especially enjoyed visiting and touring baseball and football stadiums during their travels across the United States. Always one to step up and offer help when needed, he continued serving various Lutheran schools as interim principal for ten years beyond his retirement: Lewiston, MN; Faribault, MN; Winona, MN; Eagan, MN; Roseville, MN; and Freeport, IL.

Cletus enjoyed the simplicities in life: time with his family, attending church, fellowship with friends near and far, watching the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Cardinals (or attending their games if he was lucky), home projects, bird watching, and road trips.

Cletus is loved and remembered by his wife of 59 years, Jan, daughter Brenda (Corey) Nelson of Rochester, Minnesota, daughter Benita (Brent) Moritz of State College, Pennsylvania, grandchildren Hope and Isaac Nelson and Hannah and Elizabeth Moritz, sister-in-law Donna of Columbia, Missouri and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Erwin and Edna Pfeiffer, brothers Robert and Calvin Pfeiffer, sister-in-law Margaret Pfeiffer and granddaughter GraceAnne Nelson.

The family wishes to thank Pastor Schwartz and Pastor Smith from Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester for their spiritual support and frequent visits. They also thank the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at Mayo Clinic, St. Mary's Hospital, and Methodist Hospital for their tireless work to understand and treat Cletus' disease, and their patience, kindness, and devotion to his well-being throughout his illness.

A visitation will be held at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home in Rochester, Minnesota on Sunday, October 13, 2024 from 3-6 PM. Funeral services will be at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester on Monday, October 14, 2024 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at the church. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester, Minnesota.

The family requests that memorials be given to the tuition assistance fund at Rochester Central Lutheran School in Rochester, Minnesota.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Pfeiffer family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com