Lothar was born May 14, 1936 in Bremen, Germany to Anne Lore Strack and Otto Klingmuller, and was the fourth of five children. Lothar’s zest and curiosity for life were evident in everything he did; he was known to say “just do it.” This attitude prompted his immigration to the U.S. at the age of 18 despite his lack of English and high school education. This same outlook on life led him from work as a pastry chef in Germany to three years of service in the U.S. Army. There his grave-digging duty sparked an interest in geology. Lothar secured his U.S. citizenship at the age of 26. Three years in the Colorado National Guard introduced Lothar to flying, which became a lifelong passion, eventually earning him the Wright Brothers Master Pilot award from the FAA. Lothar earned his undergraduate degree at the Colorado School of Mines and his Ph.D. in Mining and Geological Engineering from the University of Arizona. He received a Fulbright Fellowship to Australia.
He had a great love of the outdoors and even after traveling all over the world said that Colorado was the most wonderful place, which he called home. He was involved in the Colorado Pilots Association and voluntarily flew over 300 children in the Young Eagles Program in his own home-built airplane, the very same plane he flew all over the U.S. and Central America. He was also an active member of a German fraternity called Schlarafia for thirty-two years and Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden. He passed on his love of the outdoors to his twin daughters and taught them to be self-reliant in all aspects of life. He will be most remembered for his love of family and friends and readiness to celebrate the beauty and miracle of life around us, most notably with an afternoon ‘Anlager.’
Lothar is survived by his daughter, Jenny Klingmuller Hochtl (Karl), grandchildren Annelore and Karl; daughter, Kelda Klingmuller Neely (Steve), grandsons Emmett and Matthew; brother Hartmut Klingmuller, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Lothar was preceded in death by his parents, brother Olaf, sisters Karin and Gunda, and grandson Elliott.
A service will be held at Jefferson Unitarian Church,14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, on Saturday, February 29 at 2:00 p.m.
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