Donald Klinefelter

Donald Stalland Klinefelter, retired Professor at UT/Chattanooga, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Oct. 10, 2017, at the age of 79. Don was born Oct. 19,1937, in Beaver Dam, Wisc.

Don’s roots are firmly and lovingly established in the college town of Northfield, Minn., where he graduated from Northfield High School (’55) and from Carleton College (’59). Awarded Danforth and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, he received a divinity degree at Chicago Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

Don began his teaching career at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisc., in 1967, joined the faculty at UT/Chattanooga in 1969, and was a visiting professor at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., 1974-75. He retired from UTC in 2003, after 30plus years, having taught religion, philosophy, humanities, and medical ethics. He had a special rapport with young people and thoroughly enjoyed his students, his teaching, his colleagues, and many wonderful friends he met on trips and at professional meetings. He was privileged to have spent several semesters at the Ecumenical Institute of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn., and a year at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. He received UC Foundation awards to study at Harvard, Edinburgh University, and King’s College, London, and traveled as well for study in Poland and India. Don served for many years on the Ethics Committee of Erlanger Hospital; he authored a number of scholarly articles, and he received Distinguished Service and Outstanding Teacher Awards from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Don was known for his wonderful sense of humor, generous spirit, insightful teaching, and deep appreciation of all his mentors and opportunities. He often commented on his gratitude for his parents and his hometown. His great loves in life were his entire family, his friends and classmates, travel, his church, listening to the radio and reading newspapers — no computers for this guy!

Don was preceded in death by his father and mother, Donald and Hedwig, and brother and sisters-in-law, Tom, Barb and Kathy.

He is survived by whom he married in 1963, daughters, Sara (Jimmy) and Anna (Tom); grandchildren, Trenna, Jacob and Jade; sister, Sandy; brother, Paul (Anne); beloved in-laws and several nieces and nephews.

Don’s life celebration will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 400 Glenwood Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37404. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Pilgrim Church; Carleton College (One North College Street, Northfield, MN 55057, Class of ’59 Scholarship Fund); or the UC Foundation of UT/Chattanooga.

Cremation Center of Chattanooga, 423-362-5999.