Linda Tucholski Klempner ’65 passed away

KLEMPNER

Linda Susan

On Monday, July 29, 2013, Linda Susan Klempner

(formerly Tucholski) passed away in Dayton, Ohio, the

result of a sudden and

unexpected stroke.

Linda was a woman who was defined by her heart. She was born in Toledo, Ohio, on June 28, 1947, the second daughter of Aloysius and Martha Tucholski. At an early age it was determined that her congenital heart condition would make her unlikely to live long enough to see her 18th birthday. Her deeply

religious Catholic family rallied around her and a special devotion was made to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and prayers of intervention were made to St. Anthony, patron of impossible causes. While having to avoid physical exertion, Linda continued to grow up a happy child, often visiting family and having fun with her cousins. Linda met and dated, Raymond Dennis Klempner, shortly before he left for the Vietnam War. Upon his return, they continued to see each other and were married on January 15, 1972. The raucous and fun-filled ceremony following the wedding on that bitterly cold day is still fondly recalled by those in attendance. On July 27, 1973, over the objections of her doctors, Linda gave birth to her son, Matthew, who was named from the Greek form of the Hebrew meaning “Gift from God.” Throughout her life, Linda remained very close to her son and instilled in him the values that she regularly embodied – compassion for others, generosity, fairness, and equality for all. In 1979, Linda moved with her family to Cambridge, Ohio where they remained until moving to

Enterprise, Alabama in 1993. Linda worked as a Secretary for Columbia Gas of Ohio and for Manpower, Inc. Linda remained active in her church, and assisted with

local charities. She enjoyed spending time with her

extended family, visiting Seaside and Panama City Beach Florida, and pursuing her daily routine of shopping and looking for gifts for her friends and family. She also enjoyed spending time with her pet cats.

Linda is survived by her husband, Raymond; son, Matthew; daughter-in-law, Jennifer; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Nicholas Alex; nieces; nephews;

cousins; uncle; father-in-law; friends; neighbors, and by the hundreds of people whose lives she touched.

True to her heart, and in keeping with her spirit of generosity and desire to help others in whatever way she could, Linda’s organs and tissues were donated to Community Tissue Services. Linda disliked funerals and hoped that family and friends would see each other more often under happier circumstances.

The family of Linda would ask that in lieu of flowers or other tokens of sympathy, that donations be made to a local animal shelter or the Humane Society.

Published in Toledo Blade on Oct. 4, 2013