Michael Klinger Obituary

Michael Robert Klinger
June 29, 1953 – December 9, 2021
Michael Robert Klinger was born on June 29, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, the only child of Robert (Bob) Andrew Klinger and Alice May Klinger (nee Breslin). Michael lost both of his parents within months of each other in 1996, but he loved them deeply and carried their spirit throughout his life.
Michael graduated from Elk Grove High School and later joined his father in employment at Calkins & Co., a food brokerage company headquartered in the area. Michael worked his way up the ranks at Calkins until he founded his own business, K&S Food Brokers, in December 1994. Despite struggles with his illness during the last few years of his life, he ran K&S until very recently, going into the office daily and without complaint until shortly prior to his passing. During his career he made many close friends and colleagues who he often spoke of fondly.
Anyone who met Michael knew that his near-singular devotion was to his family. That part of his life began when he met Kathryn (Kay) Marie Klinger (nee Hankins) while working at the Beef and Barrel Restaurant in Elk Grove Village, where Michael managed and Kay waited tables during her college breaks. In the years that followed, Michael drove his orange Oldsmobile 442 to see Kay on an almost-weekly basis at the University of Illinois while she finished her degree. On July 31, 1976, Michael and Kay were married, marking the start of forty-five years of marriage.
After marrying, Michael and Kay settled into their first home in Schaumburg, Illinois and began to lovingly welcome their five children into the world, including four sons and one daughter: William Robert (Emily), John Michael (Nicole), Kathryn Jane (Ben), and twins, Robert James (Emily) and Glenn Allen. As parents, they were very proud that each of their children not only graduated from college, but also pursued and earned advanced degrees. At the time of his passing, Michael was a proud grandfather to his six grandchildren: Jack (9), Robert (7), Viviene (7), Julianna (3), Brooks (3) and Thomas (1), who will all carry on his legacy.
Michael was put on this earth to be a dad and he nailed the job. His children have countless treasured memories of their cherished time with him: his loud (often embarrassing) cheering at their youth baseball games and dance recitals; the many visits to Comiskey Park to see the White Sox play; cross country trips to the family's beloved vacation spot, Vail, Colorado; the unannounced birthday visits where he would drive hours to surprise them at their college campuses each year; Paul McCartney concerts; and so much more. Through his guidance, support, selflessness, and unyielding love, he provided his kids with wonderful and happy lives, for which they will be eternally grateful.
After battling illness for the last several years of his life and beating all predictions and prognoses, Michael passed away peacefully in his home on December 9, 2021. In his final days, he was surrounded by his family, which he loved above all else. Our hearts are breaking and we will miss him dearly, but we feel relief that he is reunited with his parents, Kay's parents (Glenn and Patricia Hankins), a number of his friends, and his faithful pup, Chloe. Most importantly, we take comfort knowing that "we'll see you next time," Dad.