William Karl Klenz, Jr

William Karl Klenz, Jr., age 84, better known as Bill or Pappy, lifetime resident of North East, passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at Saint Vincent Hospital.

He was born on September 13, 1940, in North East, Pennsylvania to the late William Klenz, Sr. and Ilah (Norman) Klenz.

Bill graduated from North East High School, class of 1959 where he played high school football, basketball, and track. He went to states for shot put in track and played in the Save An Eye football game, which his son William Klenz III and grandson Joshua Klenz played in as well. He was also the president of the FFA and was awarded the Keystone Farmer degree his senior year. 

He was a third-generation grape farmer and owned and operated Klenz Farms located in North East. The original family farm raised chickens, angus, and grew grapes. William saw the growth of the original farm, which was 100 acres of grapes, presently expanded to 900 acres of grapes.

Bill was always giving back to his community. He was a member of the Keystone Foods Board of Directors, Erie County Horticultural Society, North East JC, North East Moose Lodge #2568, Tidioute VFW Post 8803, Tidioute American Legion, and was a Little Gridders Football coach.

Bill was a lifelong hunter who harvested over 100 bucks in his lifetime. He was a snowmobile enthusiast who traveled across multiple states and two countries. William loved camping in Tidioute, Panama, and Old Forge, where he rode his Can-Am Spyder to and from camps.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Norma Jean Allen (A. Elmer); in-laws, Virginia and George Peck; sister-in-law, Patricia (Locke) Rizzo; nephew, Carl Boyd Rizzo; and his special camp buddy, Diesel.

Bill is survived by his high school sweetheart of 65 wonderful years, Carol J. (Locke) Klenz whom he married on May 21st, 1960; children, Scott Klenz (Teresa), Brenda McCaslin (Scott), and William Klenz III (Joanna); sister, Marjorie Lewis (Jeff); brother-in-law, Richard Locke (Cindy); brother-in-law, Carl R. Rizzo; grandchildren, William Klenz IV (Colleen), Joshua Klenz, Breanna Klenz (Garrett), Garrett McCaslin (Madison), Austin Klenz (Madison), Hunter Klenz (Christa), and Kyle McCaslin; great-grandchildren, Hallie Klenz, William Klenz V, Hunter Klenz, Jr., and expecting three more great-grandchildren.

Friends and family may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East on Tuesday 22nd from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and are invited to attend a funeral service on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be held at North East Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Fuller Hose Company, P.O. Box 89, North East, PA 16428. Please send condolences to elkinfh.com.

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