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KLEFFNER, John Henry Age 91. John was called home to join the God he so faithfully believed in on August 21, 2021, surrounded by his children and loving companion at home in Helotes. John was born in Howells, NE on May 15, 1930. He graduated from Conception High School in 1948 and studied 4 more years at Conception College, then spent a year at St. Paul’s Seminary in Minnesota. He served in the Army for 2 years. John attended Creighton University where he earned his BA in Education in 1957 and his MS in History in 1959. It was at Creighton where he met his first wife, Mary Ann Janda, studying German in the library. John began his educational career at Papillion High School. He accepted a position in Oklahoma City to be the Vice-Superintendent of Catholic schools and then served as Superintendent. While in Oklahoma, John earned an Ed.D. in Education at the University of Oklahoma. An opportunity at Our Lady of the Lake University took John and the family to San Antonio in 1970, where he very happily lived, without ever having to pick up a snow shovel again. He took a position at the UT Dental school in 1973 and for many years thrived on his work, writing, and delivering workshops to teach clinicians how to be effective instructors. John loved being an incarnate soul on this earth. He lived life enthusiastically with a joyful, grateful heart. He loved his family, loved to read and learn, loved to visit with people and always said, "God has been so good to me." He loved being surrounded by his kids and grandkids. He enjoyed family celebrations and appreciated the many birthday dinners with delicious meals, always recognizing the gift of family and God's many blessings. John prayed for his family and the world daily and lived a life of service. John was also a devoted volunteer. He volunteered for 26 years at Christus Hospice, both sitting with patients so they would not be alone, and then helping as an office volunteer. He was a volunteer with St Vincent De Paul for 17 years, also serving as the president. He organized the collection of food and delivery of Thanksgiving hampers for several years, always with great efficiency and compassion. Before John retired in 1999, he and his wife Jerry began taking two months off for the summer and would travel north in their trailer. The first summer they went to Alaska, and they went to the US northwest, the east coast, the Atlantic provinces of Canada, and to Calgary. They soon decided that full time retirement and being unconstrained with their travel was even better, and their summer adventures extended into the fall. After Jerry died John sold the trailer, bought a smaller one, and for 10 years made an annual pilgrimage that included about 4 weeks in Nebraska visiting siblings, nieces and nephews, and 4 weeks in Calgary visiting his daughter Anne and many friends that he made. He was known for his pies, his bread, and always being an interesting conversationalist, who was interested in what everyone had to say. John is survived by his children, Eileen, Theresa Funari, Daniel, Anne, and Chris, his grandchildren, Ashli Funari, Kellie, Cory and Maggie Martin, Robert Sinfield, Carson, Madeline and Reagan Kleffner, great-granddaughter Addison Funari, brother Don Kleffner (Janelle), sister Lavina Mestl (Eugene), loving companion Barbara Bauml, and will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Leo Kleffner, and his siblings Stan Kleffner, Mildred Knobbe and Catherine Meister, and his wife, Colleen J. Kleffner. Visitation is at 6:00 PM on September 2, with rosary at 7:00 PM, at Mission Park Funeral Home, 3401 Cherry Ridge. Funeral mass is on September 3 at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 13715 Riggs Rd, Helotes, with burial to follow at Helotes Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Christus Hospice https://www.hospicewepromise.com/ or Catholic Charities https://ccaosa.org/donate/. Advice for living Learn Work hard Be kind and help others

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John Henry Kleffner

May 15, 1930 - August 21, 2021