John R. Klenk (1931 - 1998)

FOR HIS ANGER lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5 (NIV)

GIVE THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

WILLMAR, MN - John Robert Klenk, 67, of Willmar and formerly of Paynesville, died Sunday night at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar from pulmonary fibrosis.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Phil Lutz officiating. Private burial will be in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials are preferred.

He was born May 2, 1931, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Charles and Margaret (Strandberg) Klenk. He grew up in Chattanooga and his later childhood years were spent in New Jersey and New York. He graduated from A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He received a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry from Long Island Agricultural and Technological Institute at the State University of New York, Farmingdale.

In 1952 he began his career in agriculture as a dairy herdsman in Hudson, Wis. On Oct. 3, 1953, in Stillwater, he was married to Shirley M. Rude and they made their home in Hudson. In 1955 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving at Selfridge Air Force Base in Mount Clemens, Mich. Following his military service he attended the University of Minnesota and was employed at Nutrena Feeds in Minneapolis. He spent more than 30 years working in the turkey industry, beginning as farms supervisor for Paynesville Turkey Industry from 1964 to 1976, Swift and Co. Turkey Operation in Temple, Texas, from 1976 to 1978, and then with Earl B. Olson Farms until his retirement in 1995.

John committed his life to Jesus Christ in 1953. He served as deacon at the First Baptist Church in Paynesville, the Memorial Baptist Church in Temple, Texas, and at the First Baptist Church in Willmar. He served two separate terms on the board of Youth For Christ in Willmar. He was a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sons, Timothy (and Suzie) Klenk of Oregonia, Ohio, Steven (and Katie) Klenk of Minneapolis and Paul Klenk of Minneapolis; daughters, Jeanne Klenk of Sterling, Va., Laura Klenk of Amherst, N.Y., and Lois (and Joe) Bonner of San Antonio, Texas; and five grandchildren.

Also surviving are his mother, Margaret Klenk of Willmar; brother, Warren (and Joann) Klenk of Mexico; sisters, Jean (and Rudy) Haas of Enid, Okla., and Sharon (and Bill) Kendrick of Crofton, Md.; one foster brother, Charles Ichler of Menahga; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, daughter, Gloria, in 1975, and one brother.