Otto B. Klukas, 81, 211 Park Ave., Coleman, WI died December 11, 2000 at the V.A. Hospital, Iron Mountain, MI.
Otto was born January 17, 1919 in the Town of Lake, WI. He was employed by the Marinette County Highway Department since 1957 and retired as a Patrolman of the Federal Highway 141 on December 9, 1980. Mr. Klukas enlisted in the Army after Pearl Harbor bombing on February 5, 1942 and received an honorable medical discharge after being wounded. He served in the European Theater for four years with the 977 Army Engineer Corps. Otto received the Bronze Star, a Presidential citation, the Purple Heart, and many meritous medals for his service. He was a life member of the D.A.V. Chapter 45 of Oconto Falls Post, life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1879 of Marinette Post, and a life member of the Loomis Legion Post 476 and served as Sergeant-at-Arms for several years. He was also a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 300. Otto was married to the former Maye Darga on March 9, 1954 at Vulcan, MI. He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Coleman.
Surviving are his wife, Maye; two daughters, Debra (Michael) Manchego of Cocoa, FL and Diane (Rod) Marquardt of Coleman, WI; three stepdaughters, Nancy (Lowell) Cummings of Lakewood, WI; Patricia (Ted) Engelbart of Germantown, WI and Jane (Robert) Blackbourn of Coleman, WI; three grandsons, Jeremy, Chase and Cody; one granddaughter, LaTasha; two brothers, Walter (01ga) of Town of Pound and Adolph (Esther) of Coleman; 16 stepchildren, and 20 step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Carl.
Friends called at Rhodes Charapata Funeral Home, Coleman from 4-8 p.m. Thursday with joint services by the V.FW, Legion, D.A.V. and Purple Heart at 7 p.m. Funeral services were conducted 11 a.m. Friday. Rev. Gregory Stahlecker officiated with interment in Glenwood Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Town of Peshtigo. Military rites were conducted at the church on Friday.