July 12, 1947 – September 4, 2026
John Warner Kloepfer, 79, of Greer, SC, died while under Hospice care surrounded by family in Syracuse, NY. John grew up in New Orleans, LA, and attended the prestigious Franklin High School. He then graduated from University of Illinois: Chicago, received his Master of Divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and his doctorate in Philosophy from Dukane University.
As an ordained minister, he served many Presbyterian churches in the northeast including: Columbian, Bovina, Westhampton, Setauket, and others. In addition to serving churches, John was a professor of Spirituality at Dukane University. He was both a faculty member of the Ecumenical Institute and the director of the Institute of Cultural Affairs in Chicago, Denver, Cincinnati, and New Haven. He was a founding member of the International Erevna Resource Network.
His other interests included golf and tennis, traveling (he particularly loved visiting the National Parks), puzzles (jigsaw and The New York Times), reading, and quality time with his grandchildren. John was a baby whisperer and baptised many calm babies. In his retirement, he loved vacationing in Cancun, Mexico and northern New Hampshire with his wife and their dog, Harry.
He is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Karen Kloepfer, Kendra (Brian) Knebel, step-daughters Jessica Howard, Siri (Max) Howard, Joanna (Alan) Feuer, sisters Jean Watts and Karol Kloepfer, and many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Kristen Lape, his first wife Margery Coon Kloepfer, and sister Ruth Ann Peters.
A memorial service will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Auburn, NY on October 10th at 11 am.