Fred L Klanke Jr
Fred L Klanke Jr was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas to Fred and Corella Klanke on October 17, 1937. Fred’s work ethic materialized at a young age as he worked on the family farm throughout his childhood. He was fond of his horse named Honey. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1958 and was stationed in Salina as an Electronics Technician where he worked on electronics and radar for B-17s, B-29s, and B-47s before leaving the Air Force. He took up flying and at one point owned a Cessna 105. While in the Air Force, he met his future bride, Alberta. They married on October 12,1959 and raised two fantastic sons, Jim and David.
He began his civilian career at an auto service shop where he became a certified GM mechanic. Shortly after, he enrolled in the Industrial Training Institute where he received an Electronic Technician associate degree. He began working at Montgomery Wards as an Electronics Service Technician. At one point, he owned his own TV business where he sold and serviced TVs. He followed up with KASA Industrial Controls where he worked for over 30 years.
After he retired from KASA, he began farming full time which was his true love. He farmed for another 20 years until health issues limited his movements. The one constant throughout Fred’s life was his love of growing a garden, something he did up until the final moments of his life. Fred was a simple man; the farm was his peaceful place. He was creative and known to develop his own replacement parts for his farm equipment. He had a knack for purchasing old equipment and restoring it. He experimented with different types of crops including cotton, peanuts, and popcorn. His favorite crop was rice which he grew in Arkansas. Fred leaves behind his wife, Alberta, son, Jim, Jim’s wife Lisa, and 2 grandchildren, Hannah and Hallie, and David’s wife, Judy. Fred was 87 years old.
A graveside service will be held 10:30 am, Wednesday, October 22, at Highland Cemetery, 3979 N Woodward, New Cambria, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, Kansas.
JoAnn (Jody) Wilbur
JoAnn (Jody) Ruth Wilbur, age 89, daughter of Adolf and Alvina Conrad, was born on September 27, 1936, in Junction City, Kansas, and died October 4, 2025 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.
At an early age, Jody’s family moved from Junction City, KS, to Salina, KS. Jody graduated from Salina High School in 1954 and attended Kansas Wesleyan University until 1957, when she married Rich Wilbur. When Rich was in the Air Force, they were stationed in Bedford, VA, and Cheyenne, WY. In 1962, they returned to Salina, Kansas, where Jody was active in The Salina Community Theater Guild, Salina Community Singers and Trinity Lutheran Church. When they moved to Hays, KS, in 1971, she was involved with the junior and senior choirs at Messiah Lutheran Church and Special Education at Wilson Elementary School.
In 1981, when Rich took a position with GE Johnson Construction Company, they moved to Colorado Springs. Jody was employed by Citizens’ Goals and the Leadership Pikes Peak program for almost 14 years and, as she often said, “got to know some of the finest folks in town.” Jody also served as a counselor for Ecumenical Social Ministries, participated in the GreenSprings planting program, led marriage enrichment seminars with her husband, and was active in First Lutheran Church and their choir. She loved the outdoors, including gardening, skiing, hiking, and climbing 12 “fourteener” mountains in the state.
Jody was preceded in death by her parents Adolf and Alvina Conrad, her brother Robert Conrad, and her son Kurt Wilbur. In addition to her husband Rich, Jody is survived by her children: Jeff (Lynda), Colleyville, TX; daughter-in-law Carol (wife of son Kurt),Richardson, TX; Eric (Anne), Colorado Springs; her grandchildren, Steven (Renee) and great-grandchild Mina; David (Sarah); John (Kelsey) and great-grandchildren Jody and Ben; Madeleine (Alistair); Andrew; and Emily (Kristi). Jody is also survived by her siblingsBetty Groves (Dean), Loren Conrad (Janet) and Mary Anne Conrad (widow of Robert Conrad).
Memorial Services will be held at First Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO, on December 12, 2025, at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, 1520 N Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO, or First Lutheran ChurchBuilding Fund, 1515 N Cascade, Colorado Springs, CO.
