Holly Hoglund Klein, the president and owner of Hoglund Bus Company for the past four years, died Tuesday morning in a seven-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 94 and a mile outside of Hasty, Minnesota. She was 44.
The Minnesota State Police said Hoglund Klein’s 2013 Buick Enclave was involved in a chain-reaction, rear collision initiated by a the driver of a 2002 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer, which was approaching slowing and stopped traffic. The semi driver struck several vehicles, apparently including Hoglund Klein’s car, which in turn struck additional vehicles. Hoglund Klein was the only fatality, while two other drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Holly Hoglund Klein. Photo courtesy IC Bus and Ackermann + Gruber.Hoglund Klein was pronounced dead at St. Cloud Hospital, police added.
The state police said road conditions were icy at the time of the 9:45 a.m. incident. Weather reports for the area also indicated that a wind chill advisory was in effect until 9 a.m. local time Wednesday. In all there were 250 reported crashes on Minnesota roads Tuesday, according to the state patrol.
Jim Gruber, general manager of Hoglund Bus, told STN that the company is devastated by the loss of their leader, but they are rallying behind her legacy in continuing on with business as usual as well as growing the dealership. The company expanded with new school bus locations in Roseville and Lakeville, Minnesota as well as in Marshaltown, Iowa and opened commercial bus operations in Wisconsin. She also oversaw the start of a new company, the full-service maintenance shop Hoglund Body and Equipment, and the number of company employees more than double to 90.
“Unfortunately a tragedy brings people together,” he said, adding that all employees were already as close as family. “Everyone is committed to what wonderful things she put together.”
He added that her parents, Wayne and Lisa Hoglund, have re-assumed company ownership.
In addition to her parents, husband and children Gabe, Devin and Elle, Hoglund Klein is survived by brother Heath (Mercedes) Hoglund, sisters Rachel (Joe) Klein and Monique (Ryan) Bergan, as well as nieces and nephews.
Lisa Hoglund confirmed her daughter’s death Tuesday afternoon in a message to the Monticello, Minnesota, Rotary Club, reported the Monticello Times. Meanwhile, a representative of IC Bus confirmed Hoglund Klein’s death for School Transportation News.
St. Michael Catholic Church Saint Michael, Minnesota posted on its Facebook page Wednesday that a visitation was scheduled for March 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. local time and one hour prior to the funeral on March 7, which was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Lisa and Wayne originally transferred company ownership to their daughter in 2011. Only two years later, in 2013, IC Bus recognized her as one of the company’s four Pursuit of Excellence Award winners. At the time Hoglund Klein was 42 years old. She was also a mother of three and the wife of Tom Klein a history teacher and basketball coach Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. The couple’s two sons attend the school and they also have a younger daughter, reported CBS Minnesota.
In an IC Bus’ Route magazine article on the award, she shared a fond memory from her childhood and growing up in the school bus business.
“My dad converted a 1962 International bus into a camper. It was a bus traded in from a customer, and he raised the roof and had it painted in our shop,” she recalled. “One year we took it up to Yellowstone. We were kind of like the Partridge Family.”
She also told the magazine that the biggest compliment she ever received from a customer was that “Hoglund Bus will always take care of us.” She said customer service is the most important lesson she learned from her father, especially as she said she was not born to be a saleswoman. Her background with the company was in operations.
“Our customers know we will do whatever it takes. But we can’t take that reputation for granted,” she added. “When you’re striving to be the best, you need to know that things can quickly go the other way.”
Klein’s grandparents Stuart and Arleen Hoglund started the business as a school bus service contractor in 1947. Hoglund Bus Co. became an International trucks dealer in 1956 and three years later began selling International school buses.
Wayne and Lisa Hoglund then became the sole owners in 1980.
The company continues to deal in new and used school buses and in addition to IC Bus specializes in Collins Bus and Starcraft Bus. It operates four locations in Lakeville, Monticello and Roseville, Minnesota and in Marshalltown, Iowa. Under the umbrella of Hoglund Companies, Hoglund Body and Equipment was founded in 2007 and operates over 30,000 square feet of shop floor with state of the art maintenance and service equipment.
