Jerome “Jerry” Warren Klingaman, 86, of Pensacola, FL, peacefully passed from this life and joined his beloved wife Alice in eternity on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Jerry was born on July 26, 1934 near Minneapolis, MN to the late Harold Warren and Clara Elizabeth (Churchill) Klingaman. He lived in the Minneapolis area until 1942 when he and his parents moved to Primghar, IA to buy and operate the Primghar movie theater. Jerry started dating Alice Marie Augustson when they were both 16 years old; and were together ever since. Jerry married Alice on May 3, 1954 and they served their country as an Air Force family with devotion, living overseas at military assignments in Thailand and England, as well as at assignments in California, Montana, Louisiana, and Florida. Jerry had additional remote assignments in Italy and Laos. Jerry was an Air Force pilot and flew KC-97, F84F, F-100 (including flights to break speed record to Italy and Hawaii), C-47, AT-28, O-1D and the O-2. After retiring from active duty in 1976, he started his Air Force Civil Service career in 1984. He worked in the College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education, writing doctrine and policy on Low Intensity Conflict; and teaching classes at Air University. In 1993, he transferred to Hurlburt Field, FL, and was a key guiding force to stand up and operate the 6th Special Operations Squadron, working Foreign Internal Defense. Even after his retirement in January 2008, Jerry (AKA Mr. K and many other nicknames including The Godfather, The Oracle, Obi-Wan, Yoda and Splinter) remains legendary in the 6th for all he did to build the organization, his Coyote Rules and his mentorship of vast numbers of present and former members. Together, Jerry and Alice raised four loving children, Mark, Trudy, Warren, and David. Jerry was a devoted husband and father who served his country and enjoyed collecting works of art, traveling the United States and the world, racing Formula Junior cars in England (1960s), building and flying gasoline model airplanes and high performance rubber powered free flight aircraft, building Kentucky style muzzle loading rifles, playing the guitar & cello, astrophotography and running high detail model trains and sailing.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Warren Jesse Klingaman; as well as his wife, Alice.
Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Lt. Col. Mark Klingaman, USAF (ret.) (Carolyn) of St. Paris, OH; daughter, Trudy Slinger (Scott) of Baltimore, MD; son, David Klingaman (Clair) of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren, Eli Slinger of Baltimore, MD, Leigh (Klingaman) White (Steve) of Bloomingdale, GA, Lauren (Klingaman) Beasley (Brandon) of Winder, GA, Adam Klingaman of Charlotte, NC, and Katherine Klingaman of Farmville, VA; two step-grandchildren, Melissa (Hamby) Dapore (Joe) of Centerville, OH and Paul Hamby (Melissa) of Rockholds, KY; four great-grandchildren, Shea, Abigail & Kathleen White and Josie Beasley; six step-great-grandchildren, Caden, Bryson & Arryson Hamby and Violet, Ada, & Will Dapore; as well as a great many close friends and work colleagues.
Visitation will begin at 2:00pm until a Celebration of Life Service at 3:00pm Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, Pensacola, FL, with Chaplain Jim Dietz officiating. Mr. Klingaman will be laid to rest with his wife at Barrancas National Cemetery.