John Howard Clinkenbeard

John Howard Clinkenbeard was born on August 5th, 1932 and passed away on May 16, 2022 at 5:05 PM at Good Samaritan Hospital at the age of 89. He was born in Bicknell, Indiana to John W. and Dorothy Howard Clinkenbeard. He attended the “old brick school” south of Bicknell, Westphalia School and graduated from Freelandville High School in 1950.  

    During and after high school he worked for area farmers Bill and Oscar Berger and Louis Buckthal. In 1951 he began working for PSI at the Edwardsport plant and worked until his retirement there in 1995. On August 7, 1952 he married Lillian Marie Kixmiller and she survives. He joined the United States Army the same year and was in the 3rd Infantry Honor Guard as a part of the Equestrian Unit. He served through many military funerals including the funeral of General Jonathan Wainwright. He was honored as a Veteran of the year on July 4, 2018 at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. John was also involved in the planning for the building of the Freelandville Community Building and Fire Station. He was proud to have been a delegate to the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas where President George H.W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle were nominated. 

    John was baptized into membership at Bethel Church in Freelandville on December 12, 1948 where he remained a member and was a member of the Christian Partners Sunday School Class. 

    Survivors include; his wife, Lillian Clinkenbeard; sons,  Gordon Clinkenbeard (Janet) of Freelandville and Bradley Clinkenbeard (Kathy) of Vincennes; Grandsons Matthew Clinkenbeard (Jenny) of Bruceville and Nicholas Clinkenbeard (Paige) of West Lafayette; Great Grandchildren Reece Clinkenbeard, Abby Clinkenbeard, Jackson Clinkenbeard and Nolan Clinkenbeard.Other survivors include sisters Barbara Kirk and Mary Yagle(Dan); brothers Bill Clinkenbeard (Karen), Jim Clinkenbeard(Linda), Bruce Clinkenbeard (Sally) and Richard Clinkenbeard, sister-in-law Sara Kixmiller, brother-in-law John Bobe and many nieces and nephews. 

    Preceding John in death were; his parents, daughter Donna Clinkenbeard, Grandson Eric Clinkenbeard and sister Carol Bobe; sister-in-law Jill Clinkenbeard, brother-in-law Ed Kirk, and brother-in-law Max Kixmiller. 

    Services for John Clinkenbeard will be at Bethel Church in Freelandville on Saturday May 21, 2022 with visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the funeral at 1 p.m. with interment in the Bethel Cemetery with military honors.  

   Memorials for John are to be made to the Eric Clinkenbeard Memorial Scholarship Fund or charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fredrickandson.com Fredrick and Son McClure-Utt Funeral Homes Bicknell Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

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