Dr. Kent Kleinkauf

Having fully loved life for 91 years, Kent Keith Kleinkauf, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, joined his Creator on Aug. 28, 2015. He passed of natural causes in the company of family and friends at the Good Samaritan Center in Prescott, Arizona, where he had resided for the past seven years.

Kent was born in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 18, 1924 to George and Edna (Treat) Kleinkauf. He graduated from Grand Island High School in 1942 and attended freshman year at the University of Nebraska studying Engineering.

Upon joining the Military in 1943, Kent was selected for a program, training doctors to serve abroad; as part of this military assignment, Kent received his Doctorate in Medicine from Northwestern Medical School in Chicago, Illinois, in 1950. He remained loyal to the University of Nebraska and to Northwestern throughout his life, often wearing school colors and emblems, always cheering the football teams and supporting both universities in many endeavors.

Later, Kent became Board Certified in the specialty of Urology, establishing a private practice in Galesburg, Illinois from 1956 until joining the staff at the VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona in 1976. Kent capped his medical career with several years of private practice in Wickenburg, Arizona before retiring in Prescott.

Throughout his career, Kent was known for his intelligence, professionalism, humility, kindness and sense of humor. He healed hundreds of patients, loved telling jokes to the hospital nurses and touched the hearts of countless others through friendship and service in the communities where he lived and as part of the American Lutheran Church, where he was a lifelong member. Kent was also active in Rotary International, Sons of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Society and the Prescott Symphony Orchestra. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and of the U.S. Air Force, serving honorably in both branches.

In 1948, while studying at Northwestern, Kent met and married the love of his life, Donna (Schantz) Kleinkauf. They shared 62 years of Christian matrimony and raised two daughters. Kent was a family man who enjoyed barbecuing, laughing at cartoons with his children and taking an annual family vacation. Over the years, Kent's and Donna's travels included Taiwan, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ecuador, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska and Hawaii.

Kent's other hobbies included fishing, playing the clarinet and piano, listening to classical music, solving word puzzles, tracing family genealogy, exercising, painting, playing games with his three grandchildren, and birdwatching.

Kent is survived by his daughters Kay Miles of Evanston, Illinois and Karen Pellizzi of Dallas, Texas; his three grandchildren Kelsey Murphy-Miles of Los Angeles, California, Christopher Pellizzi of Austin, Texas and Carolina Pellizzi of Dallas, Texas; his sister Marilyn Ehlers; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Kent is preceded in death by his wife Donna; his infant son David; and his two brothers Bruce and Don.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful people at the Good Samaritan Retirement Community in Prescott and to those at Yavapai Hospital. A thank you beyond words is extended to Kent's Accent companions Kathryn Arabie, Michelle Palma and Della Padilla, whose 24/7 professional care and sincere friendship made all the difference.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway-Floor 14, New York, NY 10004 or online at www.jdrf.org.

Kent will remain in our hearts forever.