Gene D. Kleinschmidt, 75, of the Town of Scott, Lincoln County, passed away On Thursday, September 28, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.
Gene was born December 6, 1941 in Merrill, son of the late Rudolph ‘Rudy’ and Florinda (Sabatke) Kleinschmidt. He married D’Etta Krahn on September 17, 1960 in Merrill. She survives. Gene had worked at the former Northern Door in Merrill for 27 ½ years. He then took a job at Rite Screen in Merrill, where he worked until his retirement in 2012. Gene was a lifelong member of the former St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in the Town of Scott. He was a devoted member and assisted as an elder. Gene enjoyed making maple syrup with his family, deer hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed Canadian fishing trips with his brother, Vernon and his friend, Donny. In his younger years, Gene enjoyed snowmobiling on his Moto-Ski snowmobile. Gene also enjoyed listening to music and singing with his family and playing the guitar.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, D’Etta Kleinschmidt of the Town of Scott; two daughters, Carol Kleinschmidt of Merrill and Ann (Randy) Stahnke of the Town of Scott; two sons, Dale (Rhonda) Kleinschmidt of Merrill and Jim (Kristina) Kleinschmidt of Port Orange, Florida; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one sister, Darlene (Orville) Schult of Merrill; two sisters-in-law, Joyce ‘Totsy’ Kleinschmidt of Merrill and Judy Kleinschmidt of the Town of Scott; D’Etta’s siblings, Joann (Larry) Benzinger of Rothschild, and Sharon (Jerry) Degner, Gary Krahn, Kathy Hanrahan and Debbie (Terry) Prentice all of Merrill; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Florinda Kleinschmidt; his siblings, Elroy ‘Bud’ (Thelma) Kleinschmidt, Joyce (Leslie) Weber, Phyllis (Arthur) Schmidt, Wayne Kleinschmidt, Vernon Kleinschmidt and an infant sister, Dorothy Kleinschmidt; his grandson, Trask Stahnke; and two brothers-in-law, Larry Krahn and Terry Krahn.
The funeral service for Gene will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The Rev. Greg Laska will officiate. Burial will take place in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Town of Scott, Lincoln County. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday, October 2, 2017 and again after 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 3, 2017 all at the funeral home. Taylor-Stine Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Merrill, is assisting the family.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com.