Clifford Klingsporn

Clifford Charles Klingsporn, 83, of Brenham, died February 4, 2009, in Trinity Medical Center in Brenham. Mr. Klingsporn was born December 12, 1925, in Washington County, Texas, the son of Paul Robert and Laura Ising Klingsporn. He was a graduate of Brenham High School. He served his country in the U.S. Army as a Master Sergeant during the Korean Conflict. On December 19, 1954, he was married to Vernie Dell Kirchner. He loved his family, especially his grandsons, and never missed one of their football or soccer games. Clifford played the saxophone in Professor Navratil''s band. He loved to travel and was anonymously generous to people in need. Mr. Klingsporn was employed 41 years with Santa Fe Railroad. To his many railroad friends he was known as "Old Buddy". He was fond of saying that a computer would never replace a No. 2 pencil with an eraser on it. After retiring from the railroad, he worked part-time for Memorial Oaks Chapel. Here, he was able to fulfill a lifelong desire to help people and serve his community. He was a member of St. Paul''s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge holding dual memberships in Lee Scott Lodge #793 and Graham Lodge #20 A.F. & A.M., as well as the American Legion Buddy Wright Post #48. Mr. Klingsporn was also a member of Scottish Rite Bodies and Arabia Shrine Temple and a life member of the VFW. Survivors include his wife, Vernie Dell Klingsporn of Brenham; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Bev Klingsporn of Brenham; two grandsons, Andrew Klingsporn and Alex Klingsporn; brother and sister-in-law, Robert Paul and Doris Klingsporn of Shelby; sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Ralph Hardan of Topeka, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 6 at Memorial Oaks Chapel. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 7 at St. Paul''s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham with Pastor Lawrence Bade officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. Masonic graveside services are under the auspices of Graham Lodge #20 AF & AM. Pallbearers will be Andrew Klingsporn, Alex Klingsporn, Clarence Gerke, Wayne Giese, Richard Oberrender, Dale Klingsporn, and Darryl Hardan. His friends at Memorial Oaks Chapel will be considered honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be given to St. Paul''s Christian Day School Scholarship Fund or Shriners Hospital for Children. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.