John Rees Klopfenstein

John Rees Klopfenstein’s 92-year journey ended Sunday, May 12, 2024. John, affectionately known as J.R., was a wonderful husband, father and friend; he is sorely missed by all that knew him. John was known for always looking after the best interest of others. 

John was born on October 14,1931 in Ann Arbor Michigan to Ruth Ann (Counter) and Dr. Alpha Rees Klopfenstein. John was a 1949 graduate of Woodward High School and lived most of his life in Toledo except for serving a four-year hitch as a radio technician in the US Navy (1950-1954). After the Navy, he married Barbara Anne Walker of Bedford, Ohio, pursued a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at Toledo University and worked for Toledo Scale for ten years.

In 1970, he left Toledo Scale to form Automation Engineering, his own fabrication and design business; he retired in 2002. 

John was a renaissance man with vast knowledge of many diverse subjects including physics, mechanical and electrical engineering, history, medicine and entrepreneurship. He held 2 patents, one for an electrical counting scale and the second for a glass surface detector. John was a voracious reader and his hobbies included thinking and tinkering, camping, canoeing, computers, 3D printing, genealogy and classical music. John was also an active leader in Boy Scout troop 24 serving in leadership roles for more than 15 years.

John was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Rees Klopfenstein, his daughter Beth Alison Sadowski and grandson Renaldo Walker Woodbury. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara Walker Klopfenstein, brother Thomas (Joan) Klopfenstein, daughters Pamela (Rick) Swart and Kimberly Klopfenstein, son Sean (Andrea) Klopfenstein, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren

A memorial service will be held at Collingwood Presbyterian Church, 2108 Collingwood Blvd, Toledo Ohio, 43620 at 1:00 on June 22nd.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to Collingwood Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Central Ohio.