Alfred Klepps

Ocean Park, Washington resident Alfred H. Klepps, 82, died June 6, 2007 in Portland, Oregon. The son of Albert and Susan (Laser) Klepps, he was born March 29, 1925 in Terryville, Connecticut. Alfred served in the United States Navy from 1943 until 1945 during the Second World War. He served aboard the USS Ancon when the ship took part in the invasion of Sicily and the invasion of Italy. His death occurred 61 years to the day after he took part in the D-Day invasion of France on the beaches of Normandy. At the conclusion of the war he was aboard the USS Ancon which was anchored off the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender. Alfred was proud of his duty to his country and the various ribbons and medals he received. Alfred was employed by the Rocketdyne division of North American Rockwell (now part of Boeing Corporation) where he worked on the space shuttle engines. He was also involved in the late 60s and early 70s in the fuel testing for NASA's Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. Alfred moved to Ocean Park a year ago from Fernley and Reno, Nevada. A life long member of the Lutheran faith, he was a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Seaview, WA. He enjoyed fishing, carpentry and cabinet making. He was a devoted husband and father who enjoyed his entire extended family. He and Anita Erling were married May 18, 1946 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut and they just recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. She survives. Also surviving are sons and daughter-in-laws Dennis and Pamela Klepps of Ocean Park, WA, Roald and Marsha Klepps of Sun Valley, NV and George and Georgia Klepps of Reno, NV; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Thomas Keogh of Titusville, FL; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and a niece and nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Lorna Kilby. Memorial service will be held 2 PM, June 12, 2007 at St. John Lutheran Church, Seaview, WA with a reception following. Memorials may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, PO Box 268, Seaview, WA 98614. The guestbook may be signed at www.penttilaschapel.com.