HIGH POINT — Father George Martin Kloster Jr. passed away on Dec. 24, 2019, at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point.
A Memorial Service and Committal Rites will be held at a later date in Murphy.
He was born on October 28, 1943, in Utica, N.Y., to George Martin and Helen Currier Kloster. At the age of 10, his family moved to Clayton, N.C., where his father was the manager of a textile mill. After graduating from Clayton High School, George attended St. Mary's College in Kentucky. He studied theology at the Pontifical North American College and was ordained a Catholic priest on Dec. 20, 1968, (Class of 1969) at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Father Kloster spent the next 45 years serving as pastor in seven parishes across North Carolina.
He served as pastor of St. William Church in Murphy and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville for 15 years before retiring from ministry in 2013 and continuing to make his home in Murphy.
In 2018, he celebrated his 50th anniversary of priesthood.
Father Kloster was known for his charitable works and devotion to ecumenism. He served the North Carolina Council of Churches in many areas, including as president from 1986 to 1988, and he received its Distinguished Service Award in 1991. He was an advocate for social action and justice and was awarded the Catholic Charities USA Volunteer of the Year in 2013. Also that year, a portion of U.S. Highway 64 in western North Carolina was named the "Rev. George Kloster Highway" to honor his commitment in church, civic and community affairs in Clay and Cherokee counties.
He loved to travel, both in the United States and worldwide. He led pilgrimages to Israel and throughout Europe and traveled with brother priests all over the world. Wherever he went, he visited churches and met with the people to understand what life was like there.
Family was very important to him. He regularly traveled to visit with relatives across the country and was excited to receive visits from family and friends at his home. He was instrumental in organizing Kloster family reunions, which brought together relatives from across the United States and from the family's ancestral village of Gross-Zimmern in Germany.
He is survived by a sister, Dolores Kloster Quinn, of Northglenn, Colo.; sister-in-law, Beverly S. Kloster, of New Hartford, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, James "Jimmy" Kloster and Francis "Fran" Kloster, and his sister, Barbara Kloster Jones.
Father Kloster’s family appreciates the kind and loving care given to him while he was a resident at Pennybyrn.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the North Carolina Council of Churches (www.ncchurches.org) or Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org), two organizations that promote unity, justice and charity.
Condolences to the Kloster family may be mailed to Tim Kloster, 318 Murphy Road, Youngsville, N.C. 27596.
— Catholic News Herald
Joseph Ralph Jugis
April 7, 1931 – December 3, 2019
Joseph Jugis, age 88, died December 3, 2019 due to complications from Lewy Body disease.
Joe was predeceased by his son, Mark, as well by his parents, two brothers and one sister. He was born in Mount Kisco, New York.
He is survived by Peggy, his wife of 66 years, in addition to his sons, Bishop Peter Jugis and Christopher Jugis. Also surviving are grandchildren Vince Jugis and Lauren Jugis.
Joe and his wife were founding members of Saint Ann Parish in Charlotte, and presently are charter members of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte. He was an usher for over 62 years until his recent illness prompted him to retire.
Joe was a designer of automatic fire protection sprinkler systems.
He worked on numerous government projects as well as local ones including: Eastland Mall; Carowinds; Aldi; Pineville Town Center; Forest Hills Church; Family Dollar and many more. He also worked on the sprinkler system for ABAT textile plant in Nigeria, Africa.
Joe was a gardener at heart and loved nature, which he instilled in his children. As the saying goes: "You can take the boy out of the country, but you cannot take the country out of the boy." That was Joe!
A Vigil Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte.
A funeral Mass will be offered at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019 at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte.
Memorials to support the Seminarian Program of the Diocese of Charlotte may be made to: Diocese of Charlotte Vocations Office; 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28203