Clifton A. Klabunde passed into the arms of the Lord and his Savior on September 11, 2024, in the hospital with his family and friends at his side at age 77 of pulmonary fibrosis (lung disease). Cliff was born to Arnold P. and Mary Ann (Schmidt) Klabunde in his grandparents’ San Marcos home on August 24, 1947, delivered by the same doctor who delivered his mother. Cliff grew up on the Bulverde family farm with his parents and two brothers, Mike and Douglas plus his grandfather Otto Klabunde who lived 8 years into Cliff’s life.
Cliff attended grade school in Bulverde, then bused to Canyon High School with all the other high school students graduating in 1965. He attended San Antonio College, Southwest Texas State, and UTSA while working at CPS Energy. Cliff joined the Air Force in September 1966. He was stationed at Kelly AFB before going to Forbes AFB in Topeka, Kansas for 2 years only to return to Kelly AFB to be released with Honorable Discharge.
Cliff worked for Cox Manufacturing, Baker Oil, and HEB, retiring in 2010. He was well respected at all of these workplaces, receiving many honors but the best was all the friendships that remained. He worked in their plants keeping the machinery maintained.
Cliff never believed in retiring. He was a Hermann Sons Life insurance agent since he took over from his mother in 1989. He was a member of the Prinz Solms lodge of Hermann Sons of Bulverde, its president for many years. He was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde, and a member of their maintenance committee, plus managed the church cemetery. Bulverde Community Center was like his home. He was the president and manager (unofficial) for many years. Memberships included Bulverde Bowling Club, Anhalt Club, New Braunfels Retired Teachers & Associates, & Texas Farm Bureau, was member of the Canyon alumni and HEB lunch group.
Cliff took great pleasure farming his family farm in Bulverde and ranching on Audrey’s family place near Smithson Valley. Treasured his farm equipment by always keeping it well maintained and protected. His happiest days were plowing, planting, cutting hay, and baling hay while using his John Deere tractors and attachments. Cliff started all this farming early in life when a neighbor spotted him in his dad’s fields and offered him a job of also doing his fields. He said he drove the man’s tractor from Bulverde through downtown New Braunfels to Solms just south of New Braunfels to work fields many times and was flown by plane to and from these fields by him.
Cliff is survived by his loving wife, Audrey (Halm), his brother, Douglas, and his two nephews, Kris (Alison) and Kory (Margaret) and their families, Audrey’s children, John (Jenny), Lyle (Elizabeth), and Lynn (Jason) and their families, also his dear friends Gail, David and Russell. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Mike, and his first wife, Teresa Klar.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 20, 2024, from 6pm-8pm in the sanctuary; Memorial Service will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024, at 11:00 am in Christian Faith Center (CFC) at St. Paul Lutheran Church of Bulverde, 29797 US Hwy 281 North, Bulverde, TX 78163. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bulverde Community Center, PO Box 76, Bulverde, TX 78163 or charity of your choice. Burial will be in church cemetery at later date.
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Bulverde Community CenterP.O. Box 76, Bulverde, Texas 78163
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