Celebration of Life Set for Holiday Rambler’s Dick Klingler – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
EDITOR’S NOTE: RVBusiness is following up here on an initial (Aug. 21) RVBusiness.com article regarding the Aug. 16 passing in Naples, Fla., of 97-year-old industry pioneer Richard E. Klingler. Klingler launched the original Holiday Rambler line in his hometown of Wakarusa, Ind., 10 miles south of Elkhart, Ind., where he started building trailer parts in a chicken coop and assembling the trailers outdoors in the 1950s.
The first Holiday Rambler RV was a travel trailer introduced to the public in 1953 by the Klingler Corporation, a restored example of which is located today in the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart, Ind.
Among the “firsts” attributed to the Holiday Rambler brand name was the 1961 introduction of aluminum body framing, ushering in a new era of lighter, stronger and more durable recreational vehicles.
The company was sold in 1986 to Harley-Davidson, then Monaco Coach Corp., Navistar International Corp. and in 2010 to Allied Specialty Vehicles, which became the REV Group for which Holiday Rambler currently serves as a motorized RV brand based in Decatur, Ind.
As the family-inspired obituary below from Elkhart’s Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home indicates, a visitation celebrating the lives of Richard and Pauline Klingler, who passed away in July of 2022, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the funeral home. Private family graveside services will convene at Rice Cemetery immediately following the visitation.
“The RV Industry Association mourns the passing of Dick Klingler,” stated the RV Industry Association (RVIA) in RVB’s previous posting. “He was an innovator and pioneer founding one of the industry’s iconic brands in Holiday Rambler. He was also a passionate advocate for the association and through his service on the executive committee, board of directors, and committees in the early years of the association, he helped build a foundation for the organization to grow and flourish. On behalf of our members, the RV Industry Association extends heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
“It is with great sadness, pride, and love that we as a family announce the passing of both of our wonderful parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents — Pauline P. and Richard E. Klingler.
“Our mother, Pauline, passed at the age of 94 on July 24, 2022, and our father, Richard, passed at the age of 97 on August 16, 2024.
“Surviving family members include children Debra Rogan, Pamela Smith, Douglas (Sally) Klingler. Grandchildren Shannon Marshman, Heather Elswick, step-grandson David McNally, Thomas (Lora) Rogan, Jaime Klingler, Jenna (Thomas) Everts. Great grandchildren Shawn (Daisy) Marshman, Christian Elswick, Aubrey Hoon, Josh Marshman, Peyton Elswick, Oliver Everts, Reilly Everts, Mia Marshman, Sadie Rogan, and Millie Rogan. Great-great grandchildren Grayson Marshman and Griffin Marshman.
“The loved ones that preceded our parents in death include: our mother’s parents, Wilma and Albenia Huff, sister Jean Pellus, our father’s parents, Leota and Hughlin Klingler, brother Walter Klingler, grandson Zachary Klingler, and daughter-in-law Michele Klingler, step-grandson Michael McNalley.
“Our mother was born in Lima, Ohio on August 28, 1927, and our father was born in Elkhart, Indiana on November 5, 1926. Both graduated from Elkhart High School in 1946. Mom and dad first met in school at a very young age. During high school our father played football as a running back while our mother marched in the band as a flutist. Our dad served in the US Army stationed at Camp Crowder in Missouri, Camp Atterbury in Indiana, and served in South Korea.
“During our father’s time of service, our mother was studying to become a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana. Following his return to the United States, our parents reconnected with the help of a friend and the two started dating.
“On October 14, 1950, our parents married in a small ceremony in Elkhart. This was the start of a 72-year partnership as husband and wife. At the time, little did they realize how their ambitions, hard work, and determination would take the two of them on a journey that led them to reach a level of success that has often been referred to as living the American dream.
“As a young couple, our mother worked as a Registered Nurse while our father was busy building their first home. It was a small, one-bedroom home in Elkhart where they brought all three of their babies home to begin life as a family of five.
“Our father enjoyed working with his hands and his mind was always filled with ideas of things he could make. In fact, he was still designing, creating, and working in his little wood shop at his home in Naples, Florida, right up until his passing.
“His first attempt at trying to sell items he built was with wooden toys that he created. Being nervous about selling, he took our mother with him to the first store. She held the door open for him as he walked in with his box of toys. She then shut the door behind him and waved at him through the glass. It was on this day that our parents’ business partnership began. Mom was always there to support him; she was the engine that could and would push him along to help in his achievement of their dreams.
“Following a time when our father worked in the cabinet shop at Richardson Mobile Homes, he soon discovered that he had a knack for understanding manufacturing. He felt he wanted to try to start his own business; so, our parents, along with our father’s parents, all participated in one aspect or another in starting a new company, Klingler Products.
“The very first travel trailer that the four of them built was constructed in his grandparent’s garage on Beardsley Street in Elkhart. Our father and grandfather built the trailer, and our mother and grandmother were in charge of sewing draperies. Eventually, the name of their business was changed to Holiday Rambler Corporation.
“As the years passed, their business grew and the company became more diversified with other businesses, including Utilimaster (commercial vehicles), Holiday World (retail RV sales outlet), Creative Dimensions (office, drafting furniture, and laminate kitchens), Nappanee Wood Products (kitchens), Harbor Craft Boats, Holiday House (park models), Parkway Distributors (RV parts), and B & B Molders (injection molding).
“After 33 years of nurturing their businesses, our parents decided to make a change to free up more time to spend with family and at their southern home in Naples, Florida. It was at this point that all their businesses were sold to Harley Davidson Corporation in December of 1986.
“Not long after the businesses were sold, our father, being a man that always had ambitions and dreams for other projects, began new businesses in Florida. Executive Development and Commercial Development were formed and were involved in building and managing several commercial properties in Collier County and Lee County, Florida.
“Our father has always had a wood shop where he would spend time working on many projects, some for fun and some to become future products to be marketed. That’s where the furniture line of Maple and Oak Street was started under the name of Klingler Products. This business remained in Elkhart.
“Well into his 90’s he continued building children’s wooden toys under his final business named Fun Wood Toys. He donated many of these toys to needy children, in addition to friends and family.
Our parents always had a passion for traveling and were fortunate to have been able to travel to many countries and exotic corners of the world. The trips and experiences they embarked on together were true testaments to living life to the fullest.
“Boating was always a big part of our lives as a family – from our summers on Diamond Lake to adventures along the Florida coastline and trips to the Bahamas – some of our best memories include boating. Our parents completed the Great Loop from Florida up the east coast, into the Great Lakes and then south down the Mississippi River into the Tombigbee Waterway and back into the Gulf returning home to Naples. We all remember the grand boat trip to the Virgin Islands on one of their beloved Miss Pauline boats, lovingly named after our mother. They had several boats built over the years with both of our parent’s input influencing the design and construction.
“With our parents’ success came the ability for them to be able to help others. Following the loss of their grandson Zachary Klingler to childhood leukemia, they were able to form The Pauline and Richard E. Klingler Endowed Chair for Pediatric Research and The Zachary E. Klingler Endowed Chair for Pediatrics at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. They also helped to fund the construction of many homes for those in need through Habitat for Humanity of Collier County.
Both of our parents have been honored with many awards over the years. Our father is known as one of the top ten most influential people in the RV industry and both were honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash award by the State of Indiana.
“Mom and Dad, we are all so grateful for the time we had with you both. We all love you and you will be missed greatly by your entire family and all the people whose lives you have touched with your friendship, kindness, and generosity.
“A visitation celebrating the lives of Pauline and Richard will be held from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home. Private family graveside services will be held at Rice Cemetery immediately following the visitation.
“In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Richard E. and Pauline P. Klingler Chair, the Zachary E. Klingler Chair, or the Klingler Cancer Endowment at Riley Children’s Foundation, PO Box 3356, Indianapolis, IN 46206-3356 or can be made online at RileyKids.org Please note the name of the specific fund if making a gift.”
