Klinkefus, John Thomas "Tom" (1939-2005)

KLINKEFUS, O’BRIEN

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 5/26/2005 at 18:02:29

Audubon County Advocate Journal Online

Funeral services for John Thomas “Tom” Klinkefus, 65, of Columbus, OH, formerly of Audubon, were conducted May 15, 2005 at the Northwest United Methodist Church in Columbus, OH, and May 24, 2005 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon. Interment was in the Decatur Cemetery in Decatur.

John Klinkefus, the son of John and Elizabeth O’Brien Klinkefus, was born Nov. 26, 1939 in Carroll, and died May 12, 2005, in Columbus.

Tom was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. He graduated from Audubon High School with the Class of 1958. In 1964, Tom received a BS degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

In his early career, Tom was in securities and insurance sales, helping found life insurance companies in the states of Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He served as a training director for Golden United Life Insurance Company in Columbus. Tom was among the top 10 motivational speakers in America. In 1973, he founded Berwell Energy, Inc., in Columbus, an oil exploration company drilling for and producing oil in both Ohio and Texas. He was a member of the National Petroleum Council and Ohio Independent Oil Producers Association.

Tom attended Northwest United Methodist Church in Columbus. He was a Charter member of the FOG.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his aunt, Dagny Klinkefus; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Otto and Frances Akers; sisters-in-law, Betty Bentall and Margaret Shields; brothers-in-law Harry Coble and Charles Stuck.

Tom is survived by his wife Mary of 43 years; his sons: Steve and Will Klinkefus both of Columbus; his uncle, Howard Klinkefus of Audubon; his sister, Kathleen and husband, Charles Manatt of Washington, D.C.; stepmother, Lavonne Klinkefus of Audubon; stepsisters: Marilyn and husband, George Reinemund of Bastrop, TX; and Judy and husband, Lee Nelson of Harlan; brothers-in-law: Douglas and wife, Shirley Akers of Leon; and Dannie and wife, Marilyn Akers of Joplin, MO; sister-in-law, Bonnie Stuck of Grand River; his cousin, Jerry Bright of Des Moines; nieces and nephews: Michele (Wolfram Anders) Manatt, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Timothy Manatt, Berkley, CA; Daniel Manatt, Washington, D.C.; Tom and wife, Wendy Coble, Broadview, MT; Debbie and husband, Randy Dunn, Sioux Rapids; Ben and wife, Marcy Akers, Weatherford, TX; Sandy and husband, David Higdon, Leon; Dan and wife, Veronica Akers, Cheyenne, WY; Connie and husband, Richard McCarl, New Virginia; Cleo and wife, Joyce Shields and Curtis and wife, Kathy Shields, Lamoni; Michael Stuck, Grand River; Michele Radio, Overland Park, KS; Karen and husband, Michael Mortensen, Pflugerville, TX; Nicole Stuck, Osceola; Ryan and wife, Brandy Lingner, Joplin, MO; Nathan and wife, Lisa Akers, Des Moines; 23 great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.