Thomas Klinkhardt

WAPPAPELLO, Mo. -- Thomas E. Klinkhardt, 73, of Wappapello died Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, at John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Mo., after a brief illness.

He was born March 6, 1930, in St. Louis, son of Robert and Teresa Mulderig Klinkhardt. He married Willa Ray.

Mr. Klinkhardt was a retired hearing aid specialist, and of the Catholic belief. He was a member of VFW Post 3416 at Wappapello. An avid craftsman, he enjoyed flintnapping (arrowheads) and working with leather and copper.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served aboard the USS Curtiss during the Korean War. In 1952, he participated in Operation Ivy and was involved in the atomic testing on the Marshall Islands.

Survivors include his wife; four daughters and spouses, Sherry and Terry Eakers, Debbie and Don Sides, Lori and Carl Wenskay, all of Cape Girardeau, Linda and Daryl Farrar of Gordonville; a son and his wife, Gary and Laura Klinkhardt of Jackson; his ex-wife, Beverly Adler Klinkhardt of Jackson; a brother and his wife, Jim and Nancy Klinkhardt of Cedar Hill, Mo.; a stepson, Steve Ray of Poplar Bluff; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Robert F. Klinkhardt.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Wappapello.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.