Obituary: Norman A. Kluepfel, 86, Of Mystic

Written by Mystic Funeral Home

Norman A. Kluepfel, 86, of Mystic, Connecticut, died peacefully at home on Thursday, March 8, 2018.

He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Mary (Laplant Luzzi) Kluepfel; son Thomas Kluepfel and his wife Lynn; daughter Eileen Flynn and her husband James; daughter Nancy Kluepfel and her wife Meg Sitter; son William Kluepfel and his wife Annette; step-daughters Karen Moser, Lynn Ronne and Terri Berno; grandchildren, John, Samantha, Daniel, Timothy, Kellie and Valerie Kluepfel; four step-grandchildren; his brothers Alan and Neil; and many other relatives and friends.

He was pre-deceased by his first wife of forty-two years, Joan (Honecker) Kluepfel.

Born February 20, 1932, in Queens, New York, the son of Cornelius and Helen Kluepfel, Norman attended Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn. After service in the U.S. Army, he began his long career in magazine production and subscription fulfillment, working at The New Yorker, Road & Track, American Heritage, McCall's, Twenty-Third Publications and Maryknoll Magazine.

Known for his quick wit and sense of humor, Norman also possessed a lifelong passion for history and all manner of trivia. These qualities manifested themselves in his eager anticipation of the New York Times Sunday Magazine crossword puzzle which he confidently executed, in ink. Norman was also a Yankees and Giants fan since childhood, and developed into an avid golfer.

Norman enjoyed his large, diverse family and was a devoted husband and father—roles that he took seriously.

"My dad was always a parent first and a friend second," says his son, Bill, with admiration and affection. "I am the man I am because of him."

But there was an unabashed gentle side to Norman, as well. Indeed, he was what he himself would have called “a real softie.” He spoiled his and Mary's pet dogs with food accidentally dropped from the table with strange regularity, he enjoyed feeding and watching the backyard birds and nothing made him happier than discovering one of his favorite old movies on TCM.

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and relished his intellect and whimsy.

A visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. followed by a service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 17 at the Mystic Funeral Home (Route 1, Mystic). Burial with military honors will follow at the Elm Grove Cemetery on Route 27 in Mystic.

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