Elmer Leslie Kliner of Warren, MN, age 94, born on October 14, 1927 – Tabor, MN; peacefully passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at North Star Manor in Warren, MN with family and staff by his side as he entered his eternal home with his Savior.
He married his high-school sweetheart, Geri Nelson from Crookston, MN, in 1947 and proudly served in the U.S. Navy on the warships U.S.S. Topeka and U.S.S. Iowa during his two-year tour of duty of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. After farming for 18 years on the Kliner family farm near Tabor, MN they moved to Warren, MN in 1965 where Elmer and Geri worked in the Coast-to-Coast Hardware Store in Warren, MN for six years before purchasing it and managing it until 1974. They then sold the store after which Elmer worked as a master auto mechanic and foreman at Nelson Motors Company in Warren, MN until he retired in 1984.
In retirement, he loved camping with Geri in their pull-behind camper spending the summer months in Warroad, MN and the winter months near Corpus Christi, TX. He also loved collecting, refurbishing, and displaying his antique farm engines dating back to the early 1900’s. He was known across the Upper Midwest as “the antique farm engine guy,” a resident expert in this field. For many years he attended the Pioneer Power Original Swap Meet in Le Sueur, MN, the Western MN Steam Thrashers Reunion at Rollag, MN and Albany Pioneer Days in Albany, MN where he displayed and sold many of his antique farm engines. In addition, he was known around town for his delicious (and strong) horseradish sauce that he would share annually far and wide. Elmer also enjoyed gardening and he earned a MN Master Gardener designation in 1982 from the U of MN-Crookston. He was a member of Saints Peter & Paul Church in Warren, MN for more than sixty years, and he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the local American Legion Club. Well-known for his ability to take the time to have a friendly conversation with just about anybody, he was loved by all who knew him; and will be deeply missed.
The family wishes to extend a special heart-felt thank you to the medical staff at North Star Manor, Hospice of the Red River Valley, and North Valley Health Center for all of the tender loving care they provided during Elmer’s final days.
Survived by sister, Alice Norton of Princeton, MN and sister-in-law, Edna Kliner of Bagley, MN, as well as daughter, Nancy (Gary) Wagner of Plymouth, MN, son, Scott (Connie) of East Grand Forks, MN, and daughter-in-law, Viki Kliner of Warren, MN and grandchildren – Kory (Josie), Kelly (Kyra), and Kristofer (Sarah) Kliner, and Christopher (Teresa) Kliner and Emily (Clint) Shuttlesworth, and Carlee (David) Hennessey and Jake (Shelby) Kliner. He is also survived by seventeen great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by parents Leslie and Elsie (Holy) Kliner of East Grand Forks, MN, wife, Geri M. Kliner, daughter, Kathleen R. Kliner of Warren, MN, son, Robert L. Kliner of Warren, MN, son, Dennis R. Kliner of Lakeville, MN, daughter-in-law, Marilyn (Bjorgaard) Kliner of Lakeville, MN, and grandchildren, Chad L. Kliner of Warren, MN, and Kari N. Wagner of Plymouth, MN, sisters, Dorothy Moland of Estherville, IA, Lily Faas of La Crescent, MN, and brother, Lawrence Kliner of Bagley, MN.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at North Star Assisted Living Chapel in Warren, MN. Masks are required to attend.
VISITATION: Starts at 1:30 PM on Thursday at the North Star Assisted Living Chapel.
INTERMENT: Greenwood Cemetery, Warren, MN
MILITARY SERVICES BY: Warren American Legion Post #27 and Naval Honor Guard