Michael D Klinger

Michael ("Mike") Duane Klinger, 75, of Corpus Christi, TX, formerly of Somers, IA; Fort Dodge, IA; and Bellingham, WA; passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020, at The Heart Hospital in Corpus Christi. A Celebration of Life service will take place at 8:30 AM Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Family graveside service will be at North Lawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge with military rites presented by the VFW Post 1856 and the United States Navy Honor Guard. A time of gathering for family and friends will follow the burial at the VFW (518 South 29th Street) in Fort Dodge. Michael Duane Klinger was born in Fort Dodge, IA, on August 15, 1944, the son of Duane and Lois (Tilton) Klinger. After Lois died in 1946, Duane married Merle Jean Johnson in October 1947, and they raised Mike, nicknamed "Mickey" and "Mick," and their daughter Joyce on a farm on the edge of Somers, IA. Even at a young age, Mike had the heart of a cowboy and enjoyed breaking Shetland ponies and helping around the farm. He graduated from Cedar Valley Community School in 1963. He married Marsha Cox in 1964 and together they had two sons, Richard and Michael. In 1964 Mike enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as an Aviation Machinists Mate in the Navy VX 1 Squadron NAS Key West. As an aircraft engine mechanic, he was responsible for inspecting, adjusting, testing repairing and overhauling aircraft engines with propellers. He served from November 1964 to May 1967 and then returned to Iowa and worked as an automobile mechanic. He could fix anything, even if he didn't have the right parts. He was later united in marriage to Cathie Hay on July 16, 1978, in Lynnwood, WA, and became step-dad to their daughter Shane. The family later moved to Montana where he enjoyed being a cowboy and helping ranchers with cattle drives, branding and haying. Before his retirement, he spent 7 years working as a maintenance supervisor at Highland Care Center in Bellingham, WA, where he loved being around the residents. Mike and Cathie then retired in Corpus Christi, TX, and fishing became his passion. Throughout his life, Mike loved NASCAR and had several race cars himself. He loved riding horses and watching "Gunsmoke." He was known for always wearing cowboy boots and owned about six pairs of his own. He loved his dogs, especially his little buddy Dusty. He is survived by his wife, Cathie (Hay) Klinger of Corpus Christi, TX; sons Richard Klinger of Fairview, MT, and Michael Klinger of Colorado Springs, CO; step-daughter Shane (Tim) Weg of Ferndale, WA; sister Joyce (Kirby) Schmidt of Clear Lake, IA; six grandchildren: Taryn Klinger of Fairview, MT; Daniel Martin of Billings, MT; Michael Girard of Minot, ND; Tiffany Ollerman of Glendive, MT; and John and Rylee Weg of Ferndale, WA; uncle Roger (Bonnie) Klinger of Council Bluffs, IA; niece Allison (Cody) Lycke of Forest City, IA; nephew Dana (Danielle Schmidt) of Grundy Center, IA; and step father-in-law Eugene Block of Lancaster, WI; along with cousins and friends. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Duane & Merle (Johnson) Klinger; his birth mother Lois (Tilton) Klinger; paternal grandparents Oscar & Edith Klinger; maternal grandparents Jae & Lena Tilton and Carl & Amber Johnson; his mother-in-law Vivian (Collins) Block; and father-in-law Thomas Hay. Memorials may be left to the American Heart Association or American Lung Association. Celebration Of Life Sat, Feb 8, 2020 at 8:30 am Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501