Mark J. Klemesrud

Mark James Klemesrud was born to Joyce (Paulson) and James Klemesrud on November 14, 1969, in New Richmond, WI. He died on March 21, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a sudden but hard-fought battle with glioblastoma. Mark attended primary and secondary school in New Richmond, graduating in 1988. In 1992, Mark earned his Bachelor of Science in animal science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He continued his graduate studies in animal science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, working under the guidance of his highly respected advisor, Dr. Terry Klopfenstein. In 1995, Mark completed his Master of Science degree with the thesis titled “Limiting Amino Acids in Rendered Animal Byproducts for Growing Ruminants”. In 1998, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, “Amino Acid Requirements for Beef Cattle”, earning his Ph.D. While at UNL, Mark coordinated research at the university's feedlot operations, conducted numerous research trials, authored and co-authored publications in the Journal of Animal Science as well as contributions to the Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. It was during his years of graduate school at Nebraska, where Mark “fell in love” with the Sandhills and set a goal to someday raise his own herd of cattle on a ranch in the Sandhills.

Mark’s love for “everything cattle” began early in life. He spent countless hours at the dairy alongside his beloved Grandpa Paulson. Mark loved the view of an uncut alfalfa field from an open-cab International tractor, the yearly task of putting up hay with his parents and sister, Jody and setting a record for the number of square bales he could stack in the haymow. Deer hunting was another passion for Mark, and he credits his uncle, Arthur Christensen, with teaching him how to handle a gun. As an active member of 4-H, Mark finished and showed his own steers. When Mark wasn’t working with cattle, he was figuring out the best way to feed them, which led to his first job in the commercial feed industry at Doboy Feeds in New Richmond. There, he washed countless test tubes in the laboratory, learned to balance rations and was inspired by Doboy’s staff ruminant nutritionist, Dr. Herb Rebhan, Ph.D., to pursue a graduate degree in animal science and to venture out beyond home to achieve it.

Mark and Jane (Samuels) Klemesrud were married on April 25, 1998. They resided in Somerset, WI, where Mark worked as a livestock nutritionist for Doboy Feeds, in Ewing, NE as an independent livestock nutrition consultant and then in Alton, IA, as a livestock nutritionist for Kent Feeds. During these years they were blessed with the birth of three sons, Thomas, Benjamin, and Jacob. Mark saw his role of husband and father as his life’s greatest calling. He taught his sons everything he knew about ranching, hunting, providing for a family, competing fairly and the importance of standing by your word. Mark was deeply proud of his sons’ academic and athletic accomplishments, especially valuing the honor of being their first wrestling coach. But Mark’s greatest joy as a father came from the words of his sons’ employers, coaches, professors, and teachers: that his boys were kind, considerate, and willing to work hard.

In 2012, he realized his dream of owning a ranch in the Sandhills and moved his family and his herd of cattle from Alton to a ranch east of Bassett, NE. The families of Paul and Stacey Knox, Bob and Sue Huffman and Steve and Tonya Larson were vital in this transition and Mark especially valued their friendship and support. Since 2006, Mark was a dedicated ruminant nutrition specialist with Hubbard Feeds, providing technical support to sales managers and dealers and nutritional guidance to numerous cattle operations while upholding his core belief that the producer’s needs must come first. Mark was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. He served on the board of the Rock County Ag Society and the board of the Rock County Public Schools as a member and president.

Mark is survived by his wife, Jane and sons, Thomas, Benjamin and Jacob all of Bassett; parents, James and Joyce Klemesrud of New Richmond; sister, Jody (Jim) Harle of New Richmond; parents-in-law, A. Phillip and Patricia Samuels of Norfolk, NE; brothers-in-law, Christopher (Sarah) Samuels of White Salmon, WA and Thomas (Shari) Samuels of Longview, WA; sister-in-law, Susan (Luke) Webb of Hood River, OR; nieces, Kayla Harle of New Richmond and Claire (Gonzalo Ferrandez) Samuels of Chicago, IL and nephews, Matthew Harle of New Richmond and Luke Samuels of Boise, ID. Mark was preceded in death by his infant sister.

Funeral Service was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Holy Cross Catholic Church with celebrant, Father Mike Wetovick. Music was provided by Trudy Nolles. Casketbearers were Thomas P. Klemesrud, Benjamin J. Klemesrud, Jacob S. Klemesrud, Paul J. Knox, Christopher P. Samuels, Thomas P. Samuels, Susan M. Webb and Matthew J. Harle. Interment followed in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery. A Rosary/Prayer Service was held Friday evening led by Father Mike Wetovick and Sue Huffman. Memorials were suggested to the Rock County Hospital Foundation or to the family in Mark’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfunerahome.com.