Donald Kleinschmidt
Donald L. Kleinschmidt, 87, of Harpers Ferry died Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Memorial services with military honors will be held Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. at the Ethel Robinson Meehan Community Center in Harpers Ferry. A lunch will follow immediately after the service at the community center, where there will be time to greet the family. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.
Donald Lavern Kleinschmidt was born February 21, 1932 in Clarksville, the son of Alfred and Linda (Mueller) Kleinschmidt. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clarksville and graduated from Clarksville High School in 1949. From 1951-1955, Don served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Japan. During this time, he got to meet Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, and he still had their picture he took displayed at home. Following his discharge, he returned to Clarksville before moving to Waverly.
February 22, 1959, Don married Margaret McCauley at the Methodist church in Rockford. As a carpenter, he built houses and laid flooring and carpet, working for several places including Kaiser-Corson Furniture in Waverly. Don and his family had a summer home in Harpers Ferry and in 1975 moved there permanently. He started his own business, Kleinschmidt Manufacturing, in 1987, making duck and goose calls. Due to a stroke, Don was forced to retire in 1997, and then moved to Thornton Manor in Lansing in 2009.
He was a member of AMVETS in Waverly and the Harpers Ferry American Legion Post 722; Don was also an EMT and a volunteer firefighter in Harpers Ferry as well as an organizer for Ducks Unlimited meetings over the decades. He loved duck hunting, fishing and boating along with playing pool, cards and cribbage. Don was quite the storyteller and socializer and in his younger years, could often be found in the bar playing the jukebox, singing along and dancing. The day before he died, Don commented that he “had a great life and had fun every step of the way.”
Don is survived by his wife, Maggie, of Harpers Ferry; his three children: Doug (Liz) Kleinschmidt of Tacoma, WA, Jody (Ron) Delaney of Harpers Ferry and Connie Kleinschmidt of Luana; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren: Carlee and Brody Thorstenson, Denver Halverson and Lincoln May; and four sisters: Darlene Theiking, Norma Iserman, Lois Palmer and Shirley Heinselman; and his sisters-in-law, Mary Stange and Jan and Mary Lou McCauley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant granddaughter, Lisa Delaney; a sister, Roberta (Robert) Ramker; and his brothers-in-law: Jim Heinselman, Bob Iserman, Louis Palmer, Wayne Theiking, and Marvin and Melvin McCauley.
Honorary casketbearers are Don’s six grandchildren: Dustin Thorstenson, Amanda Furr, John Delaney, Shawn Delaney, Ashlee Thorstenson and Jessyka Kleinschmidt. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
