Obituary of Arthur F. Klepper

Arthur F. Klepper, 91, of Freehold passed away on January 5, 2023, at his residence surrounded by family. He was born and raised in the Bronx and along with his wife, Louise, settled in Freehold in 1993. Arthur proudly served in the US Navy during the Korean War aboard the USS Tarawa. He was a fireman with the New York City Fire Department for 34 years before his retirement in 1988.  Arthur was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Men’s Club and Billiard Club at the Riviera Adult Community. He was a man of great faith and was a parishioner of the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine where he was an usher during Sunday Mass. Arthur was a devoted father coaching his sons in little league, basketball, and football. He never missed an event or chance to cheer his children on and was one of their biggest fan and supporters. He lived everyday as if it was a celebration and enjoyed being with his family during the holidays. Arthur would frequent Wildwood Crest and Chadwick Beach, but his most memorable trips were the Tauck tours he took alongside his wife. He was a selfless man and was a friend to all, who left the world a better place. Arthur gave all that knew him a special gift, the memories of him.

He was predeceased by his parents, William and May Klepper; brother, William Klepper; and sister, Muriel Gannon. He is survived by his adoring wife of 66 years, Louise Klepper; four children, Susan Gerard and her husband, Jim, Arthur Klepper and his wife, Mary Kay, William Klepper and his wife, Denise and Mary Ann DeLuca and her husband, Joseph; grandchildren, Melissa Cerimele and her husband, Ernesto, Jimmy Gerard, Kristin Mangine and her husband, Anthony, Amanda Bartlett and her husband, Kevin, Christina Vercillo and her husband, Thomas, Laura Klepper, William Klepper, Michael Klepper, Matthew Klepper, Joseph DeLuca, and Nicholas DeLuca; great grandchildren, Luke Bartlett, Chase Bartlett, Ella Mangine, Maya Mangine, Luca Cerimele, Amelia Cerimele; sister-in-law, Winifred DeLucia. 

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, January 8, 2023 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass on Monday, January 9, 2023 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township. Entombment will follow in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, 299 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Freehold. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to Central Jersey VNA Hospice, 23 Main Street, Suite D1, Holmdel, NJ 07733 or Tunnels To Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306. For information, directions or to leave condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com