Orlin Klinkefus

Orlin L. Klinkefus, 85, passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 3, 2023.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on October 14, 2023, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marshalltown. Preceding the service at 1:30 p.m., will be a time for family and friends to share memories of Orlin’s life. After the service, burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, followed by a time for fellowship at the church.

Born in Denver, Colorado, he grew up in Southwest Iowa, followed by several years in Boone. As a young man, he gained an appreciation for art and machinery, electronics, became a self-taught chemist, and developed a robust sense of humor, eventually becoming a mechanical engineer. After he met his wife Sally during college, they raised their family in Marshalltown as Orlin worked for over 30 years at Fisher Controls Company (Emerson). As a specialist in the design of flow valves, he brought his humor and wit to the folks working on the steamy inside of several nuclear power plants that were shut down.

Throughout their marriage, Orlin and Sally dedicated their lives to not only raising their two children, but also in donating much of their time to supporting their faith and the community. Orlin was one of the founders of the Emergency Food Box and worked with Sally (a teacher of English as a Second Language) and their church in sponsoring many immigrant families as they built new lives. He also served as Board President of the Central Iowa Art Association. During their 64 years of marriage, they helped their children experience the pleasures of life on an acreage, with German Shepherds and cats, bee keeping, a home business focused on wood carving, spawning antique collections and projects that included numerous flower gardens and a large vegetable garden. In fact, after becoming a Master Gardener, he loved sharing his expertise about plants with children as he judged county fairs. One of his most notable endeavors was hand digging a finished basement beneath the house.

As a lover of nature and the challenges of remote forest trails and carrying a canoe over a mile, Orlin especially enjoyed traveling with the family on wilderness canoeing, camping, and backpacking trips. Later focusing on his passion for art, with Sally’s help he presented his works in galleries and exhibitions, a large body of wood sculptures, and watercolor and acrylic paintings. Their many travels led to art workshops and artist-in-residence experiences as well as travel abroad for inspiration. Orlin and Sally loved to be involved with their children’s lives and then traveling to watch their grandchildren’s events and competitions. In order to be closer to family, in 2022 Orlin and Sally moved into an assisted living facility in Cedar Rapids, where they began to develop many new friendships.

Orlin is survived by his wife Sally; his siblings Karen (Lawrence) and Quentin (Florence); children Beth (Tom) and Jon (Karen); grandchildren Joseph, Anne, and Jillian; and 5 nieces and nephews. Orlin was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Selma, his brother Mike, and his granddaughter Katherine.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to be directed to the Emergency Food Box of Marshall County or to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Marshalltown, Iowa. Donations of canned/dry goods for the Food Box may be dropped at the church before the service. For online condolences or memories, please visit www.mitchellfh.com.

- lovingly written by the family