Obit: Kleckner, John L. (1864 - 1943)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org  

Surnames: Kleckner, Longenecker, Skippins

----Source: The Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 23 Dec. 1943

Kleckner, John L. (14 Feb. 1864 - 21 Dec. 1943)

John L. Kleckner, 79, prominent business man of Neillsville, passed away at his home at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 21, 1943. Although he had been in poor health for several years, his death was sudden and unexpected, as his health had been better of late.

Funeral services will be held at the residence, 171 West Fifth Street, on Friday, December 24, at 2 p.m. The Rev. George W. Longenecker, pastor of the Congregational Church, will have charge of the services.

Mr. Kleckner was born at Mifflinburg, Pa., February 14, 1864, the son of William and Matilda Zellers Kleckner. When he was fourteen years of age, the family moved to a farm near Schoolcraft, Mich., where he grew to manhood. On September 4, 1888, he was married to Miss Olive Skippins, who passed away August 24, 1943.

As a young man, he taught school, was a bank cashier, and engaged in the grain business in and near Schoolcraft. Later he moved to Chicago, where he engaged in the grain and real estate business for fourteen years. Owing to ill health, he retired from that business and moved to a farm south of Neillsville. As his health improved, he became active in the grain business, moving to Neillsville. He purchased the home on West Fifth Street, where the family has since resided.

In 1916, Mr. Kleckner was elected mayor of Neillsville, and served the city well in this capacity. For several years much of the management of the grain business has been turned over to his son Alfred, but Mr. Kleckner has always retained an interest in the business, and has always been actively interested in civic and public affairs.

Surviving are two sons, Everett and Alfred, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Three sisters and one brother also survive. Two sisters reside in Schoolcraft, Mich., and one sister, in Kalamazoo, Mich. His surviving brother lives in Highland Park, Mich.