Doris Kleppinger

Doris Louise Tillma Kleppinger passed away October 14, 2015 in Hastings, Nebraska. She was a long-time resident of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Doris was born August 29, 1921, in David City, Nebraska to William Earl & Louisa Frances Hahn Tillma, the second of two children. She graduated from David City High School, and was awarded a scholarship to the National Business School in Lincoln. Her first job after graduation was stenographer and PBX operator for Montgomery Ward. In May 1941 her mother bought her a suitcase, and she took a bus to marry Val Kleppinger on May 24, 1941 at Benton, Arkansas.

During the World War II years, Doris followed Val, who served both in the Army and Navy. She had various secretary and bookkeeper jobs as she moved between Little Rock, Arkansas; Dumas, Texas; Narragansett Bay, RI; Richmond, VA; Port Hueneme, CA; Troy, NY; and Ithaca, NY. In Dumas, they were provided trailer housing, living with another couple in the trailer and walking down the road to the bathroom. Doris often told the story of her life as a Navy sailor's wife in California. She was the only wife allowed on the dock to watch Val's ship depart for the South Pacific.

After World War II, Doris and Val lived in Lincoln and raised their family. They traveled by car through more than 40 states on their family vacations. Val was a CPA, and Doris volunteered for various organizations, and entertained with close friends. During Val's retirement, they purchased a second home in Aurora, Colorado, and alternated time between Lincoln and Aurora. Doris also began taking classes to finish a college degree. She capitalized on her prolific photography and painting talents to earn a B.S. degree in art from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1981, at the age of 65.

Val died in 2001. Doris moved to Hastings in 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Jim Tillma of Schenectady, New York. Survivors include son Michael Kleppinger (Carol) of Hastings and daughter LuAnne Kleppinger (Tony Sabló) of Vienna, Virginia; grandsons Stan Kleppinger (Annie) of Lincoln, and Scott Kleppinger (Jeanette) of Omaha; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln on Saturday, October 24, 2015; 11:00 A.M., at the gravesite in Section P3. The family suggests any memorials to the donor's choice or to Stephen Ministries, 2045 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63114 (in gratitude to Janell Dreesen of Lincoln and Barb Peck of Hastings for their compassionate service).