Marlin Dallas Kleckner

October 21, 1932 – September 22, 2026

Marlin Kleckner, 93, of Plainwell, Michigan passed away on September 22, 2026, due to a heart condition. He was a long-time resident and a pillar of the Lake Doster community, a beloved husband, brother, parent, grandparent, great grandparent, uncle and friend.

Marlin Kleckner had a long and productive life and earned the love and respect of family and friends. Born on October 21, 1932, in Dubuque, Iowa to Roland and Viola (Kitchen) Kleckner, he spent his early years growing up on a farm in Illinois. He excelled academically earning a Knapp Scholarship and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana where he was co-salutatorian of the entire university graduating class.

Marlin met his wife, Sheron Patterson in the spring of 1955 at the University of Illinois where she worked in the Veterinary school Dean’s office and proposed later that same year. They were married on January 28, 1956, in Tuscola, IL.

Marlin proudly served in the U.S. Public Health Service, and he and Sherry moved to Camilla, GA to serve his two-year term researching malaria and rabies for vaccine development. During this time their first son Tim was born.

Upon graduation, Marlin started his large animal veterinary practice in Pearl City, IL. They built a new house in time for the arrival of their second son Dan in 1960. Marlin sold his successful practice when he accepted a position with The Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo in 1963, conducting pharmacological studies on a wide variety of farm animals. Also in 1963, their third son Matt was born and the family moved to Lake Doster in 1968. Marlin and Sherry joined the Lake Doster Golf Club in 1969 and have been members ever since.

Marlin’s job took him throughout the U.S. and internationally including South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, France, Belgium and England. In 1971, he earned the Upjohn Award for Outstanding Service to the Company Award. He retired from The Upjohn Company in 1990 and continued his career with other companies including BallistiVet and Somerset Pharmaceuticals.

Throughout his adult life, Marlin enjoyed golfing and lake life with Sherry and their boys. Marlin “by the book” Kleckner was a stickler for the rules and was known to say, “If it’s a gimme, you won’t mind putting it!” He and Sherry had lots of success in the various golf tournaments at Lake Doster over the years and he won both the “Golfer of the Year” and the “Sandbagger of the Year” awards in 2006. He had many Holes-In-One over his lifetime. Marlin also enjoyed watching their kids and grandkids play various sports.

He also served the community in a variety of roles including the Gun Plain/Plainwell joint fire department board, mentoring at Plainwell Middle School, serving on the Lake Doster Homeowners Board and the Building Control Committee for the Lake Doster Lake Association, teaching snowmobile and boating safety, and was active with the American Red Cross for many years.

Marlin is survived by Sheron, his wife of 70 years of Plainwell, MI, his three sons and their families: Tim and Deb Kleckner of Saratoga, CA and their daughter Kathryn (Ryan) Tirador and their two children Kennedy and Myles of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; and their son John of Saratoga, CA; Dan of Frisco, CO; Matt and Kathy Kleckner of Commerce, MI and their children Alexander of Bradenton, FL, Adam of Milford, MI, Danielle of Sydney, Australia, and William of Commerce, MI; his sister Vae Gregory and nephew Craig Ewing of San Diego, CA.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 12:00 – 2:00 pm at the Lake Doster Golf Club, 116 Country Club Boulevard, Plainwell, MI 49080. The family invites all who knew him to attend and share their favorite memories. Those who wish to make a donation may contribute to a charity of their choice.

While visiting Marlin’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269-685-5881).