Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Samuel Henry Kleckner

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.