ROBERT J. KLECKNER Robert J. Kleckner, 82, of Stockton, died Sunday August 28, 2011 at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI surrounded by his family. Bob was born at home on a farm in Pleasant Valley Township near Stockton on Friday May 17, 1929, the seventh of eleven children of Ernest and Mary (Staub) Kleckner. Bob attended Neutral Ridge School in Pleasant Valley Township. Bob, a WWII veteran, joined the army in 1946. While stationed on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, South Pacific in 1948, he observed the testing of the sixth, seventh and eighth atomic bombs during Operation Sandstone. Bob married Shirley Stafford in the Methodist Church in Stockton on June 24, 1951. Bob worked at the Savanna Ordinance Depot from 1949-1953 while living in Blackhawk and Hanover. Bob and Shirley began farming near Stockton in 1953 and then moved from the farm to Stockton in 1985. Bob and Shirley were world travelers and traveled to all 50 states, 57 countries and 6 continents. His adventures included everything from safaris in Africa, riding elephants while tracking tigers in Nepal, to climbing the Great Wall of China. Bob enjoyed trapping and hunting and taught these skills to his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed spending time with his coffee shop friends. Bob loved country music, especially Johnny Cash, and was considered the local authority on the history of rural country schools in Jo Daviess and Carroll County. Surviving are his wife Shirley; six children: Sharon (Jim) Warren of Hoschton, GA; Linda Semande of Dearborn Heights, MI; William Kleckner of Minneapolis, MN; Michael (Julie) Kleckner of Stockton; Roger (Lynn Selby) Kleckner of Denver, CO; and Anita Rutter of Bolingbrook, IL. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jennifer (Mark) Gruenes of Madison, MN; Shawn (Mary) McPeek of San Jose, CA; Adam (Rachel) Baker, active duty Navy; Alisa Baker, active duty Navy; Rachel (Bryan) McPeek of Kent; Matt Kleckner and Ben Kleckner of Stockton, and David Kleckner of Denver, CO; one step-grandchild: Tiffany Warren of Lawrenceville, GA; seven great grandchildren :Anna, Jonah, Eli, Sarah and Simon Gruenes of Madison, MN; Donovan and Abigail McPeek of San Jose, CA; his four sisters: Genevieve Russell of Lena, IL; Marjorie Roberts of Freeport, IL; Vivian Otte of Lena, IL; Jeanette (Allen) Haas of Savanna, IL; two brothers: Richard (Ruth) of Freeport, IL; and Donald Kleckner of Elizabeth, IL. Preceding him in death were his brothers Owen on Mar. 12, 1989, Allen on May 30, 1996, Berl on Sept. 5, 2001, a sister Gladys West on July 15, 2007, three sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law, and step-grandson Michael Warren. Bob will be greatly missed by family and friends. Visitation will be Wednesday August 31, 2011 from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The funeral will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday September 1, 2011. Both will be at the Hermann Funeral Home in Stockton. Burial will be in Ladies Union Cemetery in Stockton. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Stockton Veterans Memorial.