Klinger, John, beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and musician, age 83, passed away November 18, 2019, after living with the degenerating condition of PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) for several years. John was born in Lodi, CA, to Elizabeth Perman Klinger and Johnny Klinger and grew up with brother, Bill, and sisters, Sharon & Laurel.

John discovered his calling in the US Navy. Realizing that a typical sailor's life was not for him, he volunteered one day to play Taps. That choice led to a position playing French Horn in the Navy band and a lifetime of making music. After his tour of duty, he studied music education at St. Cloud State and the University of Minnesota, eventually earning a master's degree in music performance. His first and only teaching position was in Rockford, MN, where he adopted a struggling music program and spent his career developing it to provide exceptional experiences for so many students. During his tenure, he was named Rockford's Teacher of the Year, and following retirement, he was inducted into the Rockford Teachers' Hall of Fame in 2012.

John played with many groups through the years including Monday's Men, the St. Louis Park Community Band (which he conducted for 25 years), the 451st Army Reserve Band, Allegro Sinfonia, and the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra. His band and ensemble mates were never just other parts to fill out a score; they were his friends and family. John was known for his impressive musical abilities, but he was an even more impressive person. He was endlessly curious, always seeking to learn and never leaving a path unexplored. He loved conversations with people he had known for decades and those who had just taken an order to fill his beloved coffee mug. He enjoyed discussing ideas and arguing through issues. He was never bored and was always on the go walking, playing tennis, canvassing the State Fair, and traveling. John was incredibly creative. He could create worlds out of twigs and invent amazing games from one leaf. His sense humor was unique - the cause of many cackling laughs. He was genuine and honest, never afraid to answer, "Ish," if that was his true opinion. He was generous with his time and energy, volunteering in retirement as a teacher, driver, and hospice comfort provider. Most importantly, John was loving and caring. While his outward expressions of love may have been more German than Italian, the people he loved knew that a special person cared for them.

John is survived and terribly missed by his first four children: Paul (Becky), Christine, Julieanne, and Joanne and 12 grandchildren; his wife of 44 years, Paula, and their two daughters, Tera (Dave) with their three boys (Benjamin, Andrew, Henry) and Zanne (Mike) with their two sons (Christopher, Matthew), and his sister, Sharon. He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Johnny, his brother, Bill, and his younger sister, Laurel. The family extends special thanks to the staffs at St. Therese of Woodbury, Havenwood of Minnetonka, Health East Hospice, and Fairview Hospice for their compassionate care.

A celebration of John's life will be announced at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra (PO Box 697, Wayzata, MN 55391 or https://thewso.org/donate/) or the St. Louis Park Community Band (4750 53rd Street East - #405, Minneapolis, MN 55417).