Marv Cleppe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather "Bumpa", great grandfather, brother and friend.  Marv was killed the evening of July 2, 2014, when his wheelchair was struck while crossing the street where he lived in Luverne, MN.  This tragedy was an abrupt end to a special man who lived a truly adventurous and driven life.

Born in Jasper, MN in 1943 to Eugene and Clara Cleppe, Marv forged his strong work ethic and handy fix-it skills on the family farm.  At school he enjoyed track and football, where at a recent reunion tales were recounted of his tenacity on the gridiron.  His proudest moment was "Ace of the Week" in the Argus Leader for football.  It was here where he met and eventually married his high school sweetheart Kay in 1963.

Marv attended the University of St Thomas in St Paul, MN where he had ideas of being a math teacher.  While he never graduated, he was instead driven to provide for his family through many different occupations settling eventually in Minnetonka, MN.  His charismatic personality and ability for conversation made

him a natural salesman for Honda Motorsports and Hansord Pontiac.  A job with Wyeth Laboratories as a pharmaceutical sales rep brought he and his family to Spencer, IA for a year.  A job as a manufacture's rep for women's clothing companies seemed like an unlikely fit for a man who enjoyed spending weekends racing motorcycles with his sons.  His competitive nature on the track carried into the workplace making Marv very successful.  He was eventually lured out of the women's clothing business by the "Sport of Kings", becoming a trainer for Thoroughbreds.  He raced them in Minnesota, Arizona, Nebraska, and Canada.  Marv loved horses and took great pride in caring for them.  Horse "Win" pictures adorn the wall of his house today.  Being around horses he saw the opportunity for yet another venture.  He and son, John, established Cleppe Horse Transportation and became recognized nationally as the best in the business.  Marv worked with his wife and son in this business until he was paralyzed June 26, 1999, at age 56, in an accident while racing motorcycles.

Marv's life was not only full of career adventures, but life adventures as well.  His hobbies included motorcycle track racing, motocross, skydiving and endurance horse racing - a unique sport of riding and running with your horse covering as many as 100 miles.  Family time was spent trail riding on horseback and attending horse shows, bike riding and snowmobiling.  With his sons' help hours were spent in the garage working on cars and motorcycles. He could fix and build anything.  Since his accident, he crafted many unique items to help him maintain an active and full life.  He was an advocate for the handicapped.  He also helped to change MN law for van accessible parking.

Marv had resided in Luverne, MN since March of 2006 choosing to return closer to his boyhood home.  He lived in a house on Main Street he designed himself. He was known to have a perfectly manicured lawn.  Marv was known in town as the conversationalist - stopping to talk and engage people with genuine sincerity.  He was a big fan and attendee of Luverne High School sporting events and Redbird baseball games.

Marv was preceded in death by parents Eugene and Clara (Facile) Cleppe; sister, Delores Cleppe.  Marv is survived by wife Kay (Buskerud) Cleppe; children, Mark Cleppe (Barb), John Cleppe, Keri Sobiech (Dan); grandchildren, Andrea O'Halloran, Rachel Wardlow (Adam), Celeste Cleppe, Chloe Cleppe, Kaysie Sobiech; great grandchild, Lucy O'Halloran; sisters Joanne Wohlford (Harold), Marion Stamman (Gary), Kathy Cleppe; and dear friends, Josh Boomgaarden (Alisha), Mariah Boomgaarden, and many friends.  Josh and Alisha were by his side when he died, and for this the family is very grateful that he didn't die alone.  Marv read and studied his bible often.  His faith and relationship with the Lord were a very important part of who he was.

A private burial will be held.

A Community Celebration of Marv's life will be held in Luverne, MN at a later date.

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