- Date Of Birth: January 31, 1936
- Date Of Death: May 22, 2021
- State: Iowa
Gerald (Gerry) E. Klinkefus, 85, died peacefully on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021. He was with his children and comforted and cared for by staff at Senior Suites of Urbandale and Suncrest Hospice.
Gerald Eugene Klinkefus was born on January 31st, 1936, in Guthrie County, Iowa to Paul Klinkefus and Clara Zaiger. He grew up in Audubon County, Iowa. During high school, he worked in construction with his father. Gerald enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in October of 1953 while still in high school. On June 8, 1956, he married Sharron LeAnn Welch in Audubon, Iowa. They were married for 47 years at the time of her death on February 27, 2003.
Gerald was ordered to military duty in 1956. He served in Audubon, Iowa, and then transferred to Orange County, California. After serving 7 ½ years, he transferred back to Camp Dodge in Johnston at the end of 1968. His assignments included infantry and maintenance duty. Gerald attended military school and spent the rest of his career in personnel work. He was appointed as a Warrant Officer in 1970 and progressed through the Warrant Officer ranks, becoming the 1st Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the state of Iowa. His brother, Dale, was the 2nd Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the state of Iowa. Gerald was also Officer in Charge of a marksmanship team for 12 years and was fortunate to have been awarded the rare Distinguished Rifleman Badge. He served continuously from 1956 until January of 1996, retiring at the age of 60.
During his career, Gerald attended many military schools and was the instructor at some schools. He attended college both in-person and online. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University in 1990, the same year his youngest daughter graduated from high school.
After military retirement, he worked for many years at Iles Funeral Homes as a funeral director assistant. He enjoyed singing with the Pride of Iowa Barbershop Chorus, playing golf (he had golfed on every continent except for Antarctica), fishing, traveling, volunteering at the Iowa Gold Star Museum, and spending time with his friends and family.
He was a lifelong member of the Methodist faith. Gerald was an active member for many years at Dallas Center United Methodist Church and Windsor United Methodist (Des Moines) Church.
Gerald is survived by his four children: Mark (Marci) Klinkefus of West Union, IA; David (Karen) Klinkefus of Ankeny, IA; Jill (Mike) Clapper of Newton, IA; and Brenda (Jim) Brommel of Johnston, IA; his five grandchildren: Lindsay (Alex) Kenyon of Iowa City, IA; Amy (Tyler) Stoll of Englewood, CO; Matt Klinkefus of Ames, IA; and Claire and Henry Brommel of Johnston, IA; his great-grandson Reilly Stoll and his great-granddaughter Maren Kenyon. Gerald is also survived by his brother, Randy (Susan) Klinkefus of Modesto, CA; his sister Dr. Deborah (Pink) Hamrick of Mesa, AZ; his sisters-in-law Charlene Klinkefus of Windsor Heights, IA and Norma Jean Welch of Murfreesboro, TN; and several nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends throughout the United States.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Lyle and Mabel Welch, his wife, Sharron, his brother Dale, his sister Paula Nakatsu, his brothers-in-law Tom Welch and Frank Nakatsu, and his special friend Virginia Howell.
