Submitted by: Dan Rich
April 29, 1921 - Aug. 31, 2008
South Bend Tribune 9/3/2008
MISHAWAKA - Samuel Henry Kleckner, 87, passed away on
Sunday evening, August 31, 2008, in his home. He was born in
Tippecanoe, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora
and Maude Kleckner; and five sisters, Elva Longbrake,
Ellen Zechiel, Mary Geier, Zona Bilyew and
June Kleckner; and has one surviving sister, Edna Elliott
of Plymouth, Indiana. He graduated from Tippecanoe High School in
1939. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and was honorably
discharged in 1945. He served on tours in Asia, North Africa and
Europe. Samuel married Doris Helen Young of Culver, IN, in
November 1946. From this union were born eight children. He
attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN, a baking school.
He was employed at various bakeries in the area, including the
University of Notre Dame.
In 1955 he changed careers and attended the
National School of Meat Cutting in Toledo, Ohio, after which he
worked as a meat cutter for A&P for 26 years. Samuel is
survived by his wife, Doris of 62 years; and eight children,
Carole Kisner of Indianapolis, IN, Martin Kleckner of
Indianapolis, IN, Joyce Kleckner Gatto (Eduardo) of Deerfield,
IL, William Kleckner, MD, (Kathy) of Indianapolis, IN, Bonita Kowalinski
(Gerald) of Mishawaka, IN, Beverly Kleckner-Thiele (Dean)
of Ramsey, MN, Katherine Kleckner (Joe Burns) of St. Paul, MN,
and Kevin Kleckner (Dawn Underwood) of Tucson, AZ. He is also
survived by 11 grandchildren, Jayne Kendall, MD, (Nick) of
Gastonia, NC, James Kisner III (Michelle) of San
Francisco, CA, Andrew Kleckner of Indianapolis, IN, Katie
Kleckner of Chicago, IL, and Christopher Kleckner of Bloomington,
IN, Jonathan Gatto and Christopher Gatto of Deerfield, IL,
Allison Kowalinski and Melissa Kowalinski of Bloomington, IN,
Joseph Kleckner and Annie Kleckner-Thiele of Ramsey, MN; and two
great-grandchildren, Jackson Thomas Kendall and Claire Elizabeth
Kendall of Gastonia, NC.
Visitation for family and friends will be
held Friday, September 5th, from 2 to 7 p.m. in the Hahn Funeral
Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka. Funeral service will be held
in the funeral home on Saturday, September 6th, at 10 a.m., with
Rev Mark Zerkel officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2
p.m. in Summit Chapel, Bourbon, IN. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the American
Heart Association/American
Stroke Association, Memorial & Tributes Lockbox, 3816
Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.