Clifton KLEPPER Obituary
KLEPPER, Clifton Forest Was born February 24, 1918 in Ozark, Missouri. He was the son of Bela and Dora May Klepper, Springfield, MO. Forest passed away March 7, 2014 at his residence, Aegis Lodge of Kirkland, at 96 years young. His grand children and great-grandchild and other family members had just said good-night to him. He is survived by his daughter Katie Headlee and her husband Tom, of Western Washington. He is also survived by four grandsons: Daniel E. Klepper and his wife Sheri, WA; Tom Headlee and his wife Deborah, Ohio; Robert Headlee and his wife Allison of, WA. and Craig Headlee and his fiancée Kristin Adkins of WA. He is also survived by five great granddaughters (Caitlin, Chelsey, Kiara, Mckenna and Ava) and one great-grandson (Aden). He was preceded in death by wife Leah R. Klepper (June 2012). Leah and Forest were married 72 years; they had known each other since the 8th grade. Forest was also preceded in death by son Daniel R. Klepper (2006). Forest attended the Ozark Public Schools; he graduated from Ozark High School in the class of 1935. After graduating from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis, MO. in 1938, he returned to the Ozarks to join his father in the management of the Klepper Funeral Home. In Ozark he was elected Christian County Coroner at a young age of 22. When the family mortuary business was sold, Forest and Leah moved to Aurora Missouri where he continued his career in the funeral industry. After two years in Aurora, Forest was hired by the E.I. DuPont Company at the Remington Arms Plant in Kansas City. Forest was later transferred by DuPont to Richland, Washington, to work during the construction of the Hanford Project. Moving West was a major move for this then young couple with one small son. When construction was completed at Hanford, Forest was hired by the prime contractor, The General Electric Company, and worked there for 25 years. At GE, Forest was a supervisor of plant security and also one of five original Captains in the Richland Police Department. While in Richland, WA. Forest was active in high school basketball officiating and was Secretary of the Local Association. He was a PTA President, a Mason Lodge and Elks Club member, an avid ABC Tournament bowler and a member of the Richland Baptist church. After retiring from GE, Forest again returned to work in the funeral business. Leah and Forest moved to Spokane, WA., in 1972. For more than 30 years he worked in the casket manufacturing industry. He was the General Manager of Inland Casket Company, Spokane, and later the Northwest Regional Sales Representative for The Batesville Casket Company, covering the four Northwest states. He retired at the age of 74 after a long successful career. While in Spokane, Forest enjoyed golfing, trips to the casinos and friendly games of Yahtzee and Scrabble where small wagers were involved. He truly loved his home in the Spokane Valley where they had wonderful neighbors. Trips to Nevada in younger years with friends and family were part of their entertainment as well as annual trips to Missouri to visit family. Leah and Forest enjoyed cruises to Caracas and Venezuela, trips to Hawaii, Florida and many enjoyable Funeral Director Conventions through the years in various parts of the country. Forest and Leah continued to live in Spokane until they moved west of the mountains to be closer to their daughter in 2011. A family graveside service is being held at the Pines Cemetery, Spokane Valley.
Published by Spokesman-Review on Mar. 16, 2014.
