Norman B. Klinker

Norman Bernard Klinker was born November 23, 1936, the son of Bernhard and Hilda Klinker. November 26, 2016, he died peacefully in his sleep at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, after a battle with cancer, at the age of eighty.
Norman was born on the family farm near Charter Oak, Iowa. He grew up there helping his family on the farm. He was baptized in Christ, December 27, 1936 and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith, March 18, 1951, both at St. John Lutheran Church. He received his education at St. John Lutheran School, the Charter Oak Community High School and continued his education in Agriculture with various college courses. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a marine at heart until the day he died. Norman returned to the farm near Charter Oak where he worked with his father. April 12, 1959, Norman was united in marriage to Janice at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak. The couple was blessed with the birth of five children.
Norman’s love for his Lord and Savior was matched only by the love he had for his family and his country. The family enjoyed trips to Egypt, Israel, Germany, Switzerland and other European countries as well as several states in America that included Hawaii. In his career, he raised hogs and cattle and farmed the land. He also worked at IBP for 31 years and enjoyed working with all the guys there. In his leisure time, Norman enjoyed dancing with his friends, going to the sale barn on Saturday mornings, playing catch with his son, David, caring for his family and studying history. His faith in his Lord and Savior is illustrated by the membership with the St. John Lutheran Church, superintendent of the Sunday School, member of the board of Elders, President and Vice-president of the St. John’s Lutheran School, Aid Association for Lutherans, Lutheran Laymans League and a member of St. John’s Contemporary Choir.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter, Melissa, a son-in-law, Mark; two brothers, Ben Jr. and Alvern and his wife, Betty, sisters, Helen and her husband Vernie, Elaine and her husband, Bud; brothers-in-law, Merle; Melvin and his wife, Mary; in-laws, Raymond and Valasta. Left to cherish every memory he gave us are his wife, Janice; four daughters, Laurie; Michelle and her husband, John; Tammy; Angela and her husband, Karl; and one son, David and his wife, Jill; foster child, Dick;12 grandchildren: Michael, Courtney, Ryan, Marcy, Tyler, Kysa, Nathan, Emily, Adam, Ava, Liza and Ben; and 4 great-grandchildren: Eli, Gracyn, Christopher and Lauryn; one sister, Lois; and sister-in-law, Ardis and her husband, Merv; many other realtives and friends.