July 29, 1941 – April 29, 2026
Alan “Klotz” Klotzbach, of Silver Bay MN, passed away on April 29, 2026. He was born on July 29, 1941, to Alan and Elina (Joki) Klotzbach in Chisholm, Minnesota. He graduated from Chisholm High School, where he swam and played basketball. He attended Bemidji State College (now BSU) for a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. After completing his student teaching in Forest Lake, he then settled in Silver Bay, MN where he taught English and Math, and raised a family. By the time he retired in 1998, his combined 33 years of teaching spanned all grades K-6th between the Silver Bay and Two Harbors School Districts. Beyond the classroom, Klotz poured countless hours into coaching varsity Boy’s and Girl’s Swimming, first in Silver Bay and later on in Two Harbors. He retired from teaching in 1998, but continued to coach Girl’s Swimming, and then in 2017 was instrumental in launching the William Kelley High School Clay Busters Trap Team in Silver Bay, where he served as Head Coach. His pride in his athletes was unmatched, with many competing at the state level.
When he wasn’t teaching or coaching, Klotz could be found refereeing or running the score tables at basketball, football, and hockey games. He also hunted (deer, partridge, pheasant, even bear…) and fished every chance he could get. Annual fishing trips to Lake of the Woods were among his cherished traditions.
Trapshooting with the Silver Bay Gun Club was another one of his life-long passions. A true sharpshooter, he regularly placed at the top of his category at local, regional, state competitions, and even international ones up in Thunder Bay, Canada. Additionally, his dedication to the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and Whitetails Unlimited, combined with his gift of gab and connections everywhere on the North Shore and Iron Range, meant that the annual banquets’ awards tables overflowed with donations he had procured.
He is finally reunited with his teaching buddies and other friends and family in the big beyond. Surely they are chewing the fat now, playing cribbage, bragging about the fish that got away, and making plans for the next hunting or fishing trip. His no-nonsense outlook, his sarcastic humor, his swearing like a pirate, and even his thunderous snoring are already missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and survived by his children Heather Rivière, Nicole High, Troy Klotzbach, his brother Edward (Sharon) Klotzbach, grandchildren Alanna Klotzbach, Riley High, Cheyenne Rivière, Cade High, Savannah Rivière, Ian High, Liv Rivière, Finn High, and great grandson, Stetson High.
A memorial honoring Klotz will be held from 11-3 pm on Saturday, June 27th in Finland, MN at the Finland Community Center/ Clair Nelson Center, 6866 Cramer Rd, Finland, MN 55603.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to William Kelley High School, c/o Clay Busters Trap Team, 137 Banks Blvd, Silver Bay, MN 55614 or by deposit at any branch of North Shore Federal Credit Union in the name of Clay Busters with “Klotz” in memo. He would have loved that.
A Memorial Service will be announced in the Northshore Journal and on Al’s Facebook page at a later date.
