Richard James Klinefelter was born November 19,1943, the son of Paul and Florence Klinefelter. He attended Gladbrook Community Schools, was involved in 4-H, played football and graduated from Gladbrook High School. He began working at his father’s business during high school and then obtained a 2-year degree from Marshalltown Community College. Richard served in the Iowa Army National Guard in the mid-1960s. While working for his father at Central Iowa Bean Mill, Richard met June Elizabeth Eilers, who was the secretary. They were united in marriage on November 27, 1971, at the Gladbrook Methodist Church, establishing their first home in the Gladbrook area. When the Bean Mill merged with Garvey, the couple resided in several states. While in Chicago, the couple welcomed their only child, Rebecca June in 1974. Richard worked for Pattison Bros in Fayette, Northeast Iowa, and then went to work for Peavey/ConAgra in Prairie du Chien, WI, retiring in 2010, moving from Fayette to Gladbrook in 2011. The couple was always involved in their home communities. In Fayette, Richard was on the Opera House Foundation Board, Rainbow Land Child Care Board and Palmer Lutheran Hospital Foundation Board.

Local Gladbrook activities included Lions, (Master) Mason, Gladbrook Public Library Board, Crayon Corner Learning Center Board, several United Methodist Church boards and support for June’s Women’s Club activities. Richard enjoyed numerous hobbies: major tinkering, taking great pride in his home and yard work, every morning at Casey’s for his pop refill and long john doughnut, raiding the freezer for cookies and ice cream, Wednesday morning Bible Studies, feeding birds and shooing away unwanted critters, snow blowing all neighbor’s sidewalks, mail order/online shopping and M&Ms, his favorite candy. Richard was famous for his creative and extensive outgoing phone messages. He enjoyed online solitaire and Facebook. Electronic Monopoly was a favorite family Sunday afternoon activity and he was a dependable helper for two local farmers.

He will always be remembered as a kind, caring, loving, honest, loyal, helpful and friend to everyone, who could tell the best jokes, even if they were risqué.

Richard was preceded in death by June, his beloved wife of 51 years, and his parents. He is survived by daughter Rebecca, 3 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, 1 brother and 1 sister-in-law.