Eugene "Gene" J. Klinkhammer
February 28, 1930 ~ August 6, 2013
Eugene Gene John Klinkhammer, age 83 of Centerville, MN passed away August 6, 2013 at his home. He is a proud Korean Veteran and was a retiree of the Hamms Brewery in St. Paul, MN. Gene is preceded in death by parents, John and Adella (Krebsbach) Klinkhammer; one brother; one sister. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 58 years, Rita: two sons, Mike (Laurie) Klinkhammer and Tim (Linda Madsen) Klinkhammer; two grandchildren, John Klinkhammer and Terese Klinkhammer; three great grandchildren, Aliza Valentine-Klinkhammer, Rocco Valentine-Klinkhammer and Madelyn Klinkhammer. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday, August 10th at Church of St. Genevieve, 7087 Goiffon Rd., Centerville with visitation beginning at 9 AM until time of service. Interment will be held at 12:45 PM Monday, August 12, 2013 in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Gene was “Uncle Rocky” to me and when I think of him I have to smile, because he was always smiling… plus he’d allow me to do my favorite thing: to give him a hug and smell him- yes he smelled wonderful. 🙂
Gene was one of the best neighbors I could ever have asked for. Always so friendly and sweet whenever I’d see him sitting outside or when we would pass each other coming or going, I always enjoyed those conversations. There’s been so many memories over the years that we have lived together. Things like being able to introduce him to both of my children when they were born and were home. One particular memory sticks out in my head and that was the last Halloween that we went trick or treating while Gene was home and he found out that my daughters birthday was the day before. He looked at Rita pulled out some money and asked her to “give it to his girlfriend” It was honestly the most touching thing to witness. He is a man that I will greatly miss. I pray for strength and a peace that passes all understanding for those in his family as well as his friends that he left here on this earth. May you rest forever in peace.
Gene always has been a special uncle to me as well as to my husband. I was honored to be the flower girl at his wedding to my Auntie Rita. I remember more than once getting to enjoy his home-made potato chips and having him say that he secret was in slicing the potatoes very thin. Just one of many wonderful memories. You will be missed!
On behalf of the Forest Lake American Legion Post 225, we give thanks for Gene’s military service to our nation.