Rudi Klobach From Survival in a Concentration Camp to Winning Coach
A Life Rewarded
Rudi Klobach, a resident of West Deptford, passed away Saturday, Jan. 10, at home from ALS. For three years he fought the effects of that disease until he lost the battle.
He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara of ten years; a son, Lance; a sister, Maria Klobach; nephew, Steve Amelang; niece, Susan Amelang; niece, Karen Amelang; nephew, Larry Amelang; great-nephew, Cody Amelang; sister-in-law, Joanne Amelang; and sister-in-law, Joan Williams.
He was preceded in death by his brother, William Amelang.
Rudi was born to Klara and Karl Heinz Klobach on June 18, 1944, in the Threisenstadt Nazis Concentration Camp. They were rescued from the camp by the Russians and eventually settled in Dusseldorf, Germany, where his sister Maria was born. His family moved to the United States in 1948. His father, Karl Klobach, had been an architect by trade, thus he soon was sponsored by an American architectural firm and the family settled in Pennsylvania.
Rudi attended Upper Dublin High School then went on to Thiel College near Pittsburgh where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education, majoring in English and German. His first teaching position found him in Weatherly, Pa., teaching English and German and coaching boys' soccer and track. Coaching soccer and track would become a major focus in his career. His dedication to these interests touched many lives and achieved for him many awards. Besides being an excellent coach, he also was an extremely proficient athlete.
Circumstances brought him back to the Philadelphia area where he taught as a permanent substitute teacher in Northeast High School for a few years and then landed a job in the Delran public schools. Here, in Delran is where 'Coach K', as he affectionately became known, really came into his own. He built the German program from one period to full time, teaching five levels, taught one German class at the middle school, established the German Club, and coached the girls' soccer team through many winning seasons. Every other year Rudi would take his German students to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as part of their foreign language experience. Rudi was asked to coach soccer at the World Scholar Athlete Games in Rhode Island for four summers.
After retiring from Delran, Rudi continued to coach soccer and track. He coached soccer one year at Cherry Hill West, two years at Gateway Regional High School as assistant soccer coach, then three years as head coach, then coached at Woodbury and Glassboro High Schools, primarily track.
In 2011, Rudi received a crowning honor of his career when he was inducted into the South Jersey Soccer Hall of Fame. In October of the same year, he reached the milestone of 250 game victories.
Rudi Klobach was loved by all his students and soccer players over the years. He is greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, at Temple Emanuel, 1101 Springdale Rd. in Cherry Hill, N.J.
In lieu of flowers we welcome you to make a contribution to the Rudi Klobach Scholarship Fund, Delran High School, Delran, NJ 08075, indicate on check 'special funds-memory of Rudi Klobach,' or to the Goodwin Holocaust Museum, 1301 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.
Memories may be shared at the Web site listed below. Budd Funeral Home,
DeptfordSource: Burlington County Times - Sunday, January 25, 2015 http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/obituaries/bct/rudi-klobach/article_c94606b8-8906-57ca-b47c-d2352a375e61.html
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