- Date Of Birth: November 15, 1932
- Date Of Death: January 16, 2015
- State: Illinois
Harlan W. Kluckhohn, 82 of Stockton, IL, passed away on January 16, 2015, at the home of his loving companion, Carol Griffin of Stockton.
Harlan was born on November 15, 1932, to the late Edward & Gertrude (Unz) Kluckhohn, in Naperville, IL. Harlan was preceded in death by his three older siblings; Francis, Marion, and Leila Kaufman.
He married Patricia Humphris in August 1952. Harlan served our country in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 in the Engineer & Chemical Corps, as well as completing jump school with the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg, N.C. Harlan was a member of the American Legion.
After his discharge from the Army, he worked with his brothers at Edward Kluckhohn & Son’s Excavating & Tree Transplanting Inc., operating heavy machinery of all types; including wheeled loaders, caterpillars equipped with arm systems, hydraulics, tree and material buckets that were designed and patented by his father. He often demonstrated them to prospective buyers around the country. The company included a fabricating shop and fertilizer plant. Upon the dissolution of the company in the late 1950s, Harlan acquired and continued to operate the tree transplanting and land clearing branch into the 1990s.
In 1995, Harlan and Patricia were amicably divorced/ In 1996 he partnered with Carol Griffin, assisting in her beef cattle operation while continuing to do land clearing, tree transplanting, and working in Naperville with his brother, Francis, and nephew David. Gradually his activities were curtailed when diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Harlan had a staggering number of interests. He was a lifetime member of the NRA, an avid gun collector, and an expert in all types of reloading. Other hobbies included; soap making, rope making, and horseback riding (he was a frustrated cowboy). Harlan loved pocket watches and pocket knives. He was a collector of antiques of any and every kind. Harlan was an early experimenter in cross-breeding Arabian horses with Welsh ponies. He loved all animals (especially dogs), and was a prodigious reader, subscribing to a bewildering array of magazines, especially History. Harlan loved steam shows, equipment auctions, gun shows, and farming. His keen intelligence, sense of humor, and soft-spoken gentle manner were his trademarks.
Harlan is survived by his loving companion, Carol Griffin; Harlan’s three children, Don, Bruce, and Lori (Henry) Stauffenberg of Bettendorf, IA and three grandchildren; Henry and Bruce Stauffenberg and Teagan Kluckhohn; and great-granddaughter Carmen Stauffenberg. Carol’s daughter Laurie, granddaughter Kylie, Carol’s son Dan (Melissa), granddaughter Taylor & grandson Carter, and all of whom hold him in loving memory. Harlan is also survived by nephews Jack (June) Kluckhohn & family, Bob Kluckhohn & family, Mark Kaufman; nieces Riki (Bob) Kaufman, and Lois (Gary) Blomstrom & family.
