Doris May Klempnauer

Doris was born in Kansas City, KS to Chester and Marie Kunkleman.  Her early years were spent doing fun activities with her family. Her Dad played the violin and her Mother played the piano. She always recalled singing around the piano with her parents and sister Jean. All holidays, birthdays and special occasions were spent with extended family.  She recalls getting $1 on her birthdays and thinking she was rich!  She fondly recalled church picnics, playing Hide and Seek, Jacks, Hopscotch and jumping rope.  She loved her pets which included Bantum chickens. Her parents raised chinchillas.  Her closest friends were from First Baptist Church in Kansas City where she accepted Jesus at an early age.  At Wyandotte High School, Doris played clarinet in the school marching band and orchestra. She graduated Cum Laude and was seventh in her graduating class. Her favorite subject was Math.

She married Lawrence Robert Klempnauer on July 27, 1952 in Kansas City, KS. He was a childhood friend and the first and only boyfriend.  Their parents were church friends and they did many things together as families. Their first date was on a street car to the Electric Theatre in Kansas City, KS.  Together they forged a union that was steeped in a common love for the Lord.

Doris was a homemaker supporting Lawrence in attending his final years at Kansas University, serving in the Army, operating a motel, serving in churches in Texas and Georgia, and finally at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX.   Together, they taught many conferences both in local churches and the Baptist encampments of Glorietta and Ridgecrest.  For years, they were the Directors of the Young Married Seminary Students Sunday School Class at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, TX.  She worked alongside him on the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Educators. They entertained countless groups of friends and family at their beloved weekend home on Lake Granbury.

Independently Doris taught numerous Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible Schools, sang in the church choir, played in the church Handbell Choir and even earned a degree in Church Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She was also President of the Seminary Women’s club for a term.  Before entering Assisted Living and Memory Care, Doris attended and was a member of Christ Chapel Bible Church in Ft. Worth.

Doris was an excellent seamstress. She also oil painted, cross-stitched, crafted ceramics, wrote poetry, hosted beautiful family and friend gatherings and kept an impeccable home.  Most important to Doris was her family.

Doris’ favorite prayer as recorded in her “Journal of Faith and Love”:  May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from the other.

Those who were awaiting Doris in Heaven were her loving husband of 68 years, Lawrence Klempnauer; her parents Chester and Marie Kunkleman; and her sister Jean Smith.

Surviving Doris are her three children Jan Raymond, Rob Klempnauer, Todd Klempnauer and his wife Kim (Doris’ second daughter).  Four grandchildren: Travis, Katelyn, Kathryn and Jacob. Two great grandchildren: Ryan and McKinley.  Brother Dennis Kunkleman (who was born when Doris was 19!) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the loving care extended by The Cottage Caregivers at Elk Creek Senior Living, Sarah Klempnauer and the Vitas Hospice team and family friend Beth Dymczenski.

A family gathering will be held at a later date at National Cemetery where she will be buried with her husband.