"Loved working with Kelly at Lakeville Arenas. He was funny, sarcastic able to connect with his co workers, young and old. He handled problems with ease and didn't let rude customers push him around. Will always cherish those shifts I worked with him. RIP"
In loving memory of
Kelly Klinker
February 20, 1961 - January 1, 2021
Kelly Don Klinker, age 59 of Burnsville, MN passed away January 1, 2021 at
his home during morning-coffee-time with Julie. He arrived at home
Thursday afternoon to savor his final day surrounded by family and friends.
We celebrated New Years Eve with Aly reading BC comics and New Years
Day morning coffee with Cam swabbing coffee from the Yeti cup to her Dad
and playing clarinet for him.
Originally from Little Falls, MN, formerly of Warroad, MN. Forever loved by
his wife and fishing partner of 34 years, Julie (Maslowski) Klinker, daughters,
Aly (Dan) Hufnagle and Camryn Klinker. Parents Don and Jan Klinker of Little
Falls. Brothers, Ron (Mary) Klinker of Little Falls, Barclay (Robyn) Klinker of
Hutchinson. Number one grandson, Hudson Hufnagle and Puck his trusty
black Lab. 16 nieces and nephews. And many, many fishing buddies.
Kelly enjoyed summers at the boat at Uncle Kellys Fish Camp in Two
Rivers, WI on Lake Michigan sharing his love of salmon fishing with friends
and family and enjoying the camaraderie of the Seagull Marina residents.
He graduated in 1979 from Little Falls Community High School where he
played basketball, football and track. He then completed a 2-year small gas
engine mechanic program at Brainerd Vo-tech and worked as a mechanic for
a few years at LF Lawn and Sports. After a winters of little snow and a dip in
snowmobiles to set up or repair. On the good guidance of Uncle Ken, he
became an orderly.
He then commuted/carpool with 5 other ladies from Little Falls to the LPN
program in Brainerd for one-year to earn his LPN nursing license. Fittingly,
he was hired by families to provide live-in-24-hour-in-home-end-of-life care
where he provided health care and solid, steady assurance for patients and
their families. He was hired by multiple families for his services. He was a
nurse at St. Gabriels Hospital ER and med-surg, St. Ottos Care Center and
enjoyed playing pool with the residents after hours, absorbing their wisdom
and sharing stories.
Kelly and his new bride, Julie moved to Warroad in 1986 to Lake of the Woods
and Marvin Windows. They lived in an A-frame cottage and loved hosting
family and friends for fishing, blueberry picking, parades and enjoying
Warroad-life. Kelly worked at Marvin in manufacturing, customer service,
sales and the loading dock for 10 years. He was a member of the volunteer
firefighter rescue in Warroad, Member and President of the Warroad Lions,
and member of St. Marys Catholic Church. Fittingly Kelly donated his
corneas to Lions Gift of Sight which will be used to restore sight for one to
two people (check that donor box at license renewal time if you wish) or used
for research or medical procedures.
Kelly, Julie and Alyson moved to Burnsville in 1996. He worked in the sporting
goods department at Fleet Farm in Lakeville where he was a natural with his
wealth of hunting and fishing experience. He worked at Inthermo in Lakeville
for many years as the shop manager.
Semi-retiring in 2004, to be a stay-at-home/boat with Camryn. He spent
early, dew-fill summer mornings mowing with the golf course grounds crew
at Bracketts Crossing in Lakeville and winter as a Zamboni driver at Ames
and Hasse Arenas in Lakeville for 14 year. His most important role and a role
that he aced is being a Dad to Alyson and Camryn and Pops to Hudson.
During his 3-day hospital stay this past week, a newly-engaged nurse asked
him for marriage advice. He replied, Have a good time.
Julie, Aly and Camryn ask that you hold your loved ones close and take the
fishing trip.
Share your favorite Kelly story with his family ( realistic embellishments only
please! ) to a remembrance gathering at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Home in
Little Falls on Sunday, January 3, 2021 from 2:30-4:30 pm.
Tributes
"Julie and family. Our deepest sympathies on your loss. A bear of a man in many ways, always with a smile. Scott & Lynda Marvin"
"Kelly was a bright light during his time at Lakeville Arenas. He always had a smile on his face and a kind or encouraging word for co-workers and visitors. Deepest condolences Kelly's family and friends."
"Our deepest sympathies to Julie, Cam, Aly and her husband, and little Hudson. The Klinkers home was my daughter second home. She thought of Kelly as her second father. We always looked for Kelly at every band concert and football game. We are so thankful for the wonderful memories our daughter has with their family. Thank you so much! You are in our thoughts and prayers!!"
"Dear Don and Jan,So sorry for your loss. May God help you through this time of sorrow.-Alicia Daas-"
"About 25 years ago, our old neighbor informed us he had sold his house and the Klinker family would be moving in next door. Naturally, we wondered what our new neighbors would be like?Soon after, we came home from a trip up north and noticed a big ole deer carcass hanging from the tree between our houses a little out of the ordinary for our suburban neighborhood. Suddenly two big Labradors came darting out of the Klinkers garage followed by Kelly grinning ear to ear and loving life. And that was Kellys standard MOa warm smile, an awe shucks attitude, and the kind of sincerity that you only see in really good people. Just what the neighborhood needed. He will be missed."
"Kathy and I are sorry to hear of your loss Julie and clan. All the years I spent with Kelly at Marvin and on the volunteer fire department - what a genuinely good person who cared about others. About as "real" as they come. Big time prayers to the family."
"Have a wonderful journey to that great river in the heavens old mississippi river neighbor!"
"Many, many memories of Kelly at the Big M in Warroad!!! What a guy, one I remember most is the Twins Kelly & Mike Lee at a trade show. Arnold & Danny!!! Sympathy to the family.......Julie & girls, you are in my prayers!!! Cherish the memories!!! (((((HUGS)))))"
"Deepest sympathy to Julie, Cam, Aly. I will always have the fondest memories of the big guy, out there on Fox Lake, riding the snowmobile and spearing the big northerns."
"My deepest sympathies to the Klinkers. I met the Klinkers about 10 years at the annual gathering at Fox Lake at the Engles. Chris and i would be out on the lake fishing while Kelly and Jon would prepare and execute their spearing plan for the big northerns. I'm not sure sure they ever got one but they always had a good time."
"My sympathies to the Klinker family. Lost touch with Kelly after high school graduation. Remember him as a very kind, caring, and fun person to be around. Will keep you in our prayers at this challenging time."
"Our deepest sympathies. May he rest in peace."
"Prayers and condolences go out to the entire Klinker family. May Kelly rest in the peace of Christ, and may God hold all of you in the palm of his hand. Blessed be his memory."
"I was one of the ladies who car pooled with Kelly to Brainerd for the LPN program many years ago. Kelly was so much fun to be around and defintely made many stressful days less stressful. May he rest in peace and his family find comfort and cherish their memories."
"You will be missed so much Kelly. Your love for fishing, family, the great outdoors and dogs will be missed but carried on by many. Memories will be forever cherished. Catch the big ones with Grandpa!"
"Thoughts and Prayers to all of Kellys Family. So many fun memories at Sunday school and Bible School at Zion . Kelly was always so kind ! May God wrap his arms around you all at this time of sorrow."
"To all the Klinker families and Maslowski families my sincere sympathy on your loss. Your wording and the touching way his obituary was wrote was beautiful and so meaningful. May time give you peace, hope and constant love during this journey of loss. May he rest in peace and God Bless you all in all the days ahead."
"Thoughts and Prayers are with the Klinker and Maslowski family!"
"My JR High memories many of which were with Kelly and Ronnie Klinker!! They treated me like there own family and I will never forget the time on the Mississippi River! Thank you my friend for letting me hang with the older guys and feel part of the family!!; Go Funkley Wildcats!!"
"My deepest sympathy to all of the family"
"Kelly and I worked together many years ago at St. Gabriel's Hospital. He was a great nurse. Vicki Cool Colorado,"
"My thoughts and prayers are with the Klinker family at this time. So many wonderful memories that start at the First National Bank Christmas parties. Many good memories of high school classes and conversations. Renee Kapsner"
"Deepest symptoms from Carol and I. So many memories have been going through my mind. He was my childhood fellow adventurer.."
"RIP my friend!"
"Deepest sympathy to Julie and all the Klinker family. May he Rest In Peace."
"Deepest sympathies to the Klinker Family. So sorry for your loss."
"Kelly will be missed by many and my heart goes out to his family. I haven't seen Kelly for many years but I'll share a fond memory of him. In elementary school he had something he called "Bubble Medicine." It was an imaginary potion that would heal and protect you if you got hurt on the playground or if you needed super energy he'd toss it to you through the air ! He was always so much fun and had a contagious smile."
"My condolences to Julie and Klinker family.Kelly was a great friend. Many happy memories and crazy stuff from early years.A true gentle man.Love you my friend."
"With sympathy for your loss.o"
"Our deepest sympathy! Kelly will be missed by many! Lifting your family up with our prayers! Hugs!"
"Julie and family, we are so very sorry to hear of the loss of Kelly! He was a great friend to us and all at Seagull Marina! We will surely miss his dry sense of humor and free advertisement sporting his RN Fishing Charter T-shirt while he stayed at the marina. He was a kind, gentle soul; so easy to talk with and so very kind. May he Rest In Peace. Hugs to all!"
"To lose a loved one is a great tragedy, forever loving him is a great tribute. My sympathy and prayers. Jan Kummet"
"We will miss you Ill pray for you and your family I heard your a big queen fan hang in there"
"Prayers for all of you. Cherish the memories. God bless"
"Elliot and I are so very sorry to hear about Kelly. Our hearts are just breaking for you Julie and your family. Hugs Teresa and Elliot"