Robert Daniel Kletzel

It is with immense sadness we announce the passing of Robert Kletzel on Wednesday, May 26, 2022 at the age of 61 years, after a 5 year battle with cancer… a full 2 years longer than the doctors gave him. It was very much like Dad to do things his way, regardless of what anyone else thought. 

It’s almost impossible to think of Dad without thinking of music and guitars. If he wasn’t playing guitar, he was fixing, tinkering with, buying or selling a guitar or amp… and it was rare to spend time with him without music in the background. Even during his last month at BUH, as his hearing failed, he almostalways had music blasting on his phone (just ask the nurses!) Dad amassed quite the collection over the years, and at some points almost had more guitars than he had space to live. He was always researching them, learning whatever he could on YouTube. He even tried to teach us how to play more than a few times, but that never worked out well for any of us.

Beyond his love of music and guitars, Dad enjoyed hunting for a deal. One of his true loves was bargain bin shopping, going to auctions, and buying mystery boxes to see what he’d wind up with. Sometimes they were great buys, sometimes not so much – regardless, we always got a good laugh out of his excitement at finding a bargain, and we have a random collection of goodies to thank him for. He also enjoyed actual hunting and fishing, either with Kyle, Robin and the kids or a few of his close friends. He was very much looking forward to spending time in his boat this summer.

Dad was a welder by trade but changed careers after a back injury and began working at Gold Eagle Casino, starting as a live games dealer. It didn’t take long before he became a supervisor, or ‘Pit Soup’ as he liked to call it. He enjoyed seeing and chatting with the regulars and built long lasting friendships with some of the employees there. If he seems familiar to you but you’re not sure why or where you know him from, it’s very likely you crossed paths at the casino sometime over the last 25+ years. 

One of the things we will miss the most about Dad are the hours long conversations we would have late into the night. We would talk for hours about anything and everything… from music and politics to bargain hunting, funny stories about his past, our lives, cooking, work, hunting and everything in between. Often it would be 4 or 5 am before we’d finally go to bed after one of these epic chats. In his last day, we joked lightly that it was just like Dad to have us up all hours of the night together. He always loved mornings, so it was very fitting after a long night that he would pass only after the sun came up for him one last time. 

Dad, Papa & dear friend, he will be missed more than any of us could ever imagine.

He leaves behind his daughter and son-in-law Robin & Kyle Dirksen and their children Hunter, Curtis, Hayden & Lyla; daughter Amber Kletzel, her partner Craig Grainger and their dogs Marley, Aspen and Shugar; numerous friends and the people he knew and chose as his family. He was predeceased by his mother Hilda Lagarde in 2014.

As per Robert's request no formal service will be held at this time.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium - Trevor Watts Funeral Director.