| Robert Klepper |
| October 1, 1917 - November 8, 2007 |
| Rogers, AR |
Visitation: November 11, 2007
Funeral Service: November 12, 2007
Robert F. Klepper 90, of Rogers, died Thursday November 8, 2007 at St. Mary’s Hospital. He was born
October 1, 1917 in Frankfort, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents Bertha Fink Klepper, and Fred
Klepper.
Robert attended Joliet Junior College, received a BA from Elmhurst College, a M.Div., from Union Theological
Seminary, a STM from Princeton Theological Seminary, and was a minister of the United Church of Christ. He
was the organizing minister of Prospect Heights Community Church in Illinois, (1943-1965). He also served
Long Grove Evangelical Church (1943-1945), St. Mark UCC of Chicago Heights (1965-1975), First
Congregational UCC of Plymouth, Wisconsin (1975-1981). Robert retired in 1981 and moved to Bella Vista in
1983.
After moving to Bella Vista, he volunteered at the Bella Vista Library, and served on voluntary pastoral services
for the Bella Vista Community Church and the Bella Vista First United Methodist Church.
Robert was an artist and enjoyed working with faceted glass, as well as being an accomplished writer of religious
books. Among his publications is an article in Church Management Magazine on faceted glass (1966), a
concordance of The Hymnal United Church of Christ (1985), and three hymnal concordances published by
Scarecrow Press; The Methodist Hymnal 1987, The Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church, and the Pilgrim
Hymnal 1989.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy Schemske of the home, a son Dr.Tim Klepper of DeFuniak Springs, Florida;
a daughter Ceinwen King-Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a step son Dr. Douglas Schemske, of Mason,
Michigan; a step daughter Sandra Schemske, of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan; a brother Clarence Klepper, of
Rockford, Illinois; two grandchildren Heather Fani, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Martin King-Smith of
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, numerous nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his first wife Olga
Klepper, the mother of Tim and Ceinwen, as well as his second wife Judith Klepper.
Memorial services will be 2:00PM Monday November 12, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Rogers, with
the Rev. Laura Fleetwood, and the Rev. Jeff Parker officiating.
A memorial visitation will be from 2-4:00PM Sunday November 11, 2007 at Stockdale Funeral Services of
Rogers.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorials be made in honor of Robert F. Klepper to the Parkinson
National Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave. Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136-1494.
October 1, 1917 in Frankfort, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents Bertha Fink Klepper, and Fred
Klepper.
Robert attended Joliet Junior College, received a BA from Elmhurst College, a M.Div., from Union Theological
Seminary, a STM from Princeton Theological Seminary, and was a minister of the United Church of Christ. He
was the organizing minister of Prospect Heights Community Church in Illinois, (1943-1965). He also served
Long Grove Evangelical Church (1943-1945), St. Mark UCC of Chicago Heights (1965-1975), First
Congregational UCC of Plymouth, Wisconsin (1975-1981). Robert retired in 1981 and moved to Bella Vista in
1983.
After moving to Bella Vista, he volunteered at the Bella Vista Library, and served on voluntary pastoral services
for the Bella Vista Community Church and the Bella Vista First United Methodist Church.
Robert was an artist and enjoyed working with faceted glass, as well as being an accomplished writer of religious
books. Among his publications is an article in Church Management Magazine on faceted glass (1966), a
concordance of The Hymnal United Church of Christ (1985), and three hymnal concordances published by
Scarecrow Press; The Methodist Hymnal 1987, The Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church, and the Pilgrim
Hymnal 1989.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy Schemske of the home, a son Dr.Tim Klepper of DeFuniak Springs, Florida;
a daughter Ceinwen King-Smith of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a step son Dr. Douglas Schemske, of Mason,
Michigan; a step daughter Sandra Schemske, of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan; a brother Clarence Klepper, of
Rockford, Illinois; two grandchildren Heather Fani, of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Martin King-Smith of
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, numerous nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his first wife Olga
Klepper, the mother of Tim and Ceinwen, as well as his second wife Judith Klepper.
Memorial services will be 2:00PM Monday November 12, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church of Rogers, with
the Rev. Laura Fleetwood, and the Rev. Jeff Parker officiating.
A memorial visitation will be from 2-4:00PM Sunday November 11, 2007 at Stockdale Funeral Services of
Rogers.
The family request in lieu of flowers that memorials be made in honor of Robert F. Klepper to the Parkinson
National Foundation, 1501 NW 9th Ave. Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136-1494.
