Joseph P. Klotnia
1934 – 2021
USAR
Joseph Paul Klotnia, was born August 14, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, to Andrew and Mary Klotnia.
He married Audrey Helen Lee in August 15, 1959 at St. Michael’s Chapel in Toronto, Ontario; they raised six children.
Klotnia graduated from Tilden Technical High School, and joined Crane Co. Bolstered by management encouragement there to seek higher education, Klotnia volunteered for the U.S. Army, and used the GI Bill to earn his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois.
In 1961, he joined the purchasing department of International Harvester (IH) where he spent the majority of his working career until 1987. He earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Business School. Klotnia subsequently worked for Mead Paper Company, Hobart Brothers and Fidelity Investments until his retirement in 1999.
His passions included woodworking, jogging, golf, family camping trips, and tours of the Air and Space Museum in Dayton, OH.
In retirement, he took up the clarinet and immersed himself with reunions for veterans of the 928th Engineer Aviation Group. He co-authored a book with John Barton memorializing his military friends entitled, Colliers End Camp: . . . a SCARWAF Shangri-La for the 928th Engineer Aviation Group.
Veteran Joe Klotnia passed away on July 16, 2021 and rests at Evergreen Cemetery with his wife.
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Remember. Honor. Teach.
Courtesy of Signal Hill Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.