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Fred J. Klinger
1880 - 1962
Pioneer
in City Auto Dealerships Dies at Portage
The funeral of Fred
J. Klinger, 82, pioneer Watertown automobile dealer, will take place Monday at
9 a.m. from the Boyle Funeral Home, followed by a requiem High Mass at St.
Bernard’s Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Vincent Thilman,
C.S.C., will officiate and interment
will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Friends may pay
their respects at the funeral home after 3 p.m. Sunday. The rosary will be at 8 p.m.
Mr. Klinger who had
been living in Portage since leaving Watertown a few years ago died Thursday
night, at his home there, 617 East Edgewater Street.
He was a member of
the Plattdeutscher Verein in
Watertown and was also a charter member of the Elks lodge here and the
Watertown Country Club. He operated the
first Ford agency in Watertown and later was for many years identified with
Klinger-Buick.
Married Twice
His first wife was
Marie Giese. They were married in 1901. She
passed away in 1947. Later he married
Christina Weber. She survives.
Other survivors are
four daughters, Mrs. Edward J. King, Mrs. Carl Raue,
Sr. and Mrs. Norman Becker, Watertown; Mrs. Delbert Keltner,
Mukwonago; a son, Wallace, Watertown; a stepson, John Cavanaugh, Portage; one
sister, Mrs. George Reinhard, one brother, Anton Klinger, both of Watertown. A number of grandchildren and
great-grandchildren, also survive.
Mr. Klinger was a
member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church at Portage.
During his many
years in business here Mr. Klinger was a public spirited and community-minded
citizen. He was active in bowling and
sponsored national bowling entries through Klinger-Buick.
A quiet, soft spoken
man, Mr. Klinger was interested in people and made many friends.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin