Clifford Klinge

Clifford A. Klinge was born on August 29, 1925, to Elmer and Alma (Lenth) Klinge on the family farm between Farmersburg and National.  

He was a typical farm boy and rode his pony to the Pioneer School.  He later attended the Farmersburg school and then transferred to the Monona school so he could play baseball.  

His major interests were sports, fishing, hunting, travel, euchre and horses, which he maintained his entire life.

In the summer of 1942, he met his wife-to-be, Naomi J. Siebrecht, at a dance at Lakeside Ballroom.  They were married at St. Paul's in Garnavillo on November 15, 1947.  They lived with his parents until spring of 1948, when the farm was sold.  

Cliff and his dad established and ran a livestock buying operation in Luana until about 1957 when the entire family moved to Postville where Cliff began long distance trucking as an owner/operator.  

In the early 70's they built a home in Clermont and Cliff sold the big rigs an drove locally until retirement in about 1990 when they sold their home and moved to Garnavillo.

Cliff was a founding member, and first president of, the Whistlin' Bit Saddle Club.  The club's name was Cliff's suggestion.  He was also a member of the "Flying Hoof Quadrille", a troupe that did square dancing on horseback.  

He was always an avid sports enthusiast, following the Cubs his entire life as well as fishing the Mississippi river and Minnesota lakes in the 50's, and fishing and hunting in the Ontario, Canada woods and lakes. In about 1971 the family was treated to fresh moose meat!  

As retirees, Cliff and Naomi traveled extensively in their motor home. They drove as far north as Alaska and as far south as Belize.  In 1988 they traveled with their children to Germany where they met distant relatives on both sides of the family.  

Cliff also enjoyed working the woods, cutting lumber, producing spalted maple and furnishing his kids with firewood.  He and Naomi were members of various euchre card clubs.  

Cliff always  had "words of wisdom" for his kids including "keep 'er between the ditches",  "always keep a club" and "watch your speed through Luxemburg and New Vienna".

He was proceeded in death by an infant sister, Alma, and his parents.  

He is survived by his wife and four children, Lew of Alexandria, Virginia, Jody (Gaylord) Wooge of Forest City, Lisa (James) Burt of Rochester, Michigan and Kirby (Kathy) of Panora, six grandchildren, Chaldon and Courtney Wooge, Lauren and Carson Burt, Aaron and Ryan Klinge and two great-grandchildren, Alexander Wooge and "Evie" Grace Wooge.

Cliff passed away peacefully in the afternoon on November 20.  Naomi was with him.

Services will be held at a later date and internment will be in the Garnavillo cemetery.      48u48