Ronald G. Kleopfer, M.D.
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
He was born Sept. 30, 1929, in Jefferson County, to Gale and Mary Kleopfer.
After graduating from high school, he attended and graduated from Hanover College, then continued to Indiana University Medical School. Upon receiving his medical doctorate degree, he completed his internship and residency in orthopedics in Detroit and IU Medical Center, Indianapolis, respectively. He also completed a spine fellowship at Toronto East General Hospital.
He was drafted in the Korean War and served from 1955-1957, in the USAF in the Basic Flight Surgeon School. In later years, he also served in the U.S. Marine Corp and U.S. Air Force Reserves. He moved to Fort Wayne in 1962, where he founded Orthopedics NorthEast. His office practice centered on the North Clinton address and based his surgery at Parkview Hospital on State Street. He specialized in the spine area and retired in 1994, with a much larger organization than he started with. He enjoyed his work immensely and especially those people he worked with at ONE and Parkview for 32 years.
Upon retirement, he traveled extensively but spent most of his time with his beloved wife Carolyn at their homes in Wyoming, Indiana and Florida. He enjoyed and was an active member in the Marco Island Presbyterian Church, Florida. He especially loved the mountains of Wyoming and was able to visit the area a week prior to his death. He also was an avid rare book collector of early world geography and donated his extensive collection to Hanover College where they are housed in a dedicated room. Also at Hanover, he has the honor of a lecture hall in the science building named after him.
He was active in the Fort Wayne community throughout his medical career, serving on the Allen County Council and the Fort Wayne Community School Board as a member and past president. He also served on the Indiana State Board of Medical Examiners and on the executive board of the IU School of Medicine. He was also a member of the following organizations: Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Omega Alpha, Scottish Rite, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Medical Society of Fort Wayne.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Carolyn; a daughter, Kimberly Pierce; two sons: Eric and Stuart; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Carroll, Madison.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mishler-Eastlund Funeral Home, Harris Chapel, Syracuse.
Calling is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
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Memorials may be sent to the North Webster Church of God, P.O. Box 313, North Webster, IN 46555; or Marco Island Presbyterian Church, 875 W. Elkcam Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145-2213.
Condolences may be sent to www.mishlerfuneralhomes.com[[In-content Ad]]
He was born Sept. 30, 1929, in Jefferson County, to Gale and Mary Kleopfer.
After graduating from high school, he attended and graduated from Hanover College, then continued to Indiana University Medical School. Upon receiving his medical doctorate degree, he completed his internship and residency in orthopedics in Detroit and IU Medical Center, Indianapolis, respectively. He also completed a spine fellowship at Toronto East General Hospital.
He was drafted in the Korean War and served from 1955-1957, in the USAF in the Basic Flight Surgeon School. In later years, he also served in the U.S. Marine Corp and U.S. Air Force Reserves. He moved to Fort Wayne in 1962, where he founded Orthopedics NorthEast. His office practice centered on the North Clinton address and based his surgery at Parkview Hospital on State Street. He specialized in the spine area and retired in 1994, with a much larger organization than he started with. He enjoyed his work immensely and especially those people he worked with at ONE and Parkview for 32 years.
Upon retirement, he traveled extensively but spent most of his time with his beloved wife Carolyn at their homes in Wyoming, Indiana and Florida. He enjoyed and was an active member in the Marco Island Presbyterian Church, Florida. He especially loved the mountains of Wyoming and was able to visit the area a week prior to his death. He also was an avid rare book collector of early world geography and donated his extensive collection to Hanover College where they are housed in a dedicated room. Also at Hanover, he has the honor of a lecture hall in the science building named after him.
He was active in the Fort Wayne community throughout his medical career, serving on the Allen County Council and the Fort Wayne Community School Board as a member and past president. He also served on the Indiana State Board of Medical Examiners and on the executive board of the IU School of Medicine. He was also a member of the following organizations: Phi Gamma Delta, Alpha Omega Alpha, Scottish Rite, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Medical Society of Fort Wayne.
Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Carolyn; a daughter, Kimberly Pierce; two sons: Eric and Stuart; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Carroll, Madison.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mishler-Eastlund Funeral Home, Harris Chapel, Syracuse.
Calling is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials may be sent to the North Webster Church of God, P.O. Box 313, North Webster, IN 46555; or Marco Island Presbyterian Church, 875 W. Elkcam Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145-2213.
Condolences may be sent to www.mishlerfuneralhomes.com[[In-content Ad]]
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