Ohio horsewoman Klosterman dies at 78

Judy Klosterman, an Ohio-based owner, breeder, and consignor, died Oct. 13 from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. She was 78.

A native of South Fort Mitchell, Ky., Klosterman’s first experience in the Thoroughbred industry came at the young age of 10, when she convinced her father to buy her a broodmare at the 1950 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, she moved into breeding show collies, bringing up about 15 champion dogs.

Klosterman returned to the Thoroughbred realm in 1987 when she and husband Ken established the 235-acre Langsem Farm in Loveland, Ohio.

Their successes under the Langsem Farm banner include Naughty, Ohio’s champion 2-year-old of 1999, Ohio Broodmare of the Year Haveaheavenlytime, and stakes winners Cruise, Brushy Fork, Enticed, Heavenliness, and Conjuress. Klosterman was named Ohio’s breeder of the Year in 1992, and TOBA’s Midwest regional Breeder of the Year in 1999.

Perhaps her greatest success as a breeder was Unbridled Time, a son of Unbridled’s Song out of Haveaheavenlytime who sold to Bob and Beverly Lewis for an Ohio-bred record $1.15 million at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale, and went on to become a Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner. He later retired to stud in Florida.

Langsem Farm has five Ohio-breds cataloged in this year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.
Klosterman served as a director, executive committee member, and treasurer of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and was vice president and a director of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.

Klosterman is survived by Ken, her husband of 58 years, as well as children Kimberly, Jayme, and Kenneth Jr., plus three grandchildren. The family owns and operates Klosterman Baking Company, one of the largest bakeries in the Midwest.