Philip B Klotz, Jr (Phil), long-time business owner of The Klotz Agency, passed away peacefully at home on May 30, 2025.He was born on March 8, 1933, in Leavenworth KS, the son of Philip B. Sr and Agnes M (Burke) Klotz. He graduated from St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School and Leavenworth Senior High School. On July 7, 1953, he married Gail Louise Hamilton at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Santa Monica CA.
Phil enlisted at age 17 and proudly served in the US Navy during the Korean War earning the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the China Service Medal, the United Nations Medal and the Korean Service Medal with two stars. He was the founding member of the USS Orleck DD-886 Association which grew to be one of the largest Destroyer reunion groups with over 1,200 members. In 1982 the Orleck was decommissioned and transferred to the Turkish Navy. In 2000 arrangements were made for it to be returned to Orange, TX where it was built, to be established as a museum ship for the Southeast Texas War and Memorial Association. Over 400 were in attendance at the banquet to celebrate her return. He and Gail enjoyed attending his ship reunions and seeing old and new shipmates. They also participated in working on the restoration of the ship during the scheduled “field days”. The USS Orleck is now moored in Jacksonville FL as a museum - The Jacksonville Naval Museum. Phil and Gail, all of their children and many of their grandchildren and great grandchildren were able to make a trip to Florida in November 2022 for Veterans Day to visit the Orleck, a visit Phil truly enjoyed. Phil was also a member of the American Legion Post 23 and the VFW Post 56.
Phil began working at The Klotz Agency in 1956 and Gail joined him later when they became co-owners of the Agency in 1975. Their sons Mark and Gary joined them after graduating from KU. The family-owned business, started by his uncle and aunt, Raymond Klotz and sister Margaret Klotz, was recently sold after 88 years. Phil was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served as a member or chairman of most all the various committees in the church and the Church Council. He was president of the Leavenworth Jaycees and served on the Board of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, President of the Leavenworth Board of Realtors and President of the Leavenworth Insurance Board. Phil served for many years on the Board of Directors at Cushing Memorial Hospital until its transition to the St Luke’s Hospital System. He served on the Board of Mount Muncie Cemetery Association for 46 years and he also enjoyed delivering Meals on Wheels for the Council on Aging for many years.
Phil loved his family, his home, their house at the Lake of the Ozarks, fishing, his church and his Lord. He also loved German chocolate cake, cheesecake, ice cream, Twizzlers, spaghetti, shrimp, steak, making his homemade BBQ sauce and having a whiskey sour at the Ozarks. One of Phil’s greatest joys was pulling his kids and grandchildren skiing behind his boat at the Ozarks. Phil also enjoyed and loved following the Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a stillborn son, Dean Bernard Klotz, and his sister Elizabeth L Diaz and her husband Ralph Diaz. Surviving are his wife Gail of the home and their four children and spouses: Mark (Susan) Klotz of Leavenworth, Lynn (Butch) Tate of Virginia, Susan (Chuck) Engstrom of Lansing and Gary (Laura) of Eudora. Additionally, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, another great grandchild due in October, and many nieces and nephews.
His family loved him so much, and he will be truly missed.
Funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church Monday, June 9, 2025. Visitation at 10:00, service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phil’s memory to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 311 N 7th Street, Leavenworth KS 66048, or to the USS Orleck DD-886, 2220 County Rd 210 West Suite 108, PMB 314 Jacksonville FL 32259.
