Keith A. Klopfenstein

Mar 17, 1920 - Aug 4, 1989

SOUTH BEND Keith A. Klopfenstein, of 12006 Kern Road former county commissioner and owner of Klopfenstein Advertising Agency, died at 12:40 p.m. Friday in Memorial Hospital. Mr. Klopfenstein was elected to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners as a Republican from the western district in 1963.

He served as president of St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners from 1965 to 1970. As commissioner, he urged mayors of South Bend and Mishawaka create a countywide planning agency and in 1964, be created seven man committee that addressed this issue. He appointed South Bend Mayor Lloyd Allen and Mishawaka Mayor Margaret Prickett to a policy committee that planned the organization of a regional planning agency that became the Michiana Area Council of Governments.

In addition to politics, Mr. Klopfenstein was active in advertising. He was employed in the advertising department of The Tribune. In 1956, be became a partner in the J. Lincoln Carter Advertising Agency, where he had been employed since 1952. He was appointed chairman of the Public Informa Lion Committee of United Fund of Joseph County and served as a member of the board of directors.

In 1964, he opened a new firm, Carroll, Herrmann, Klopfenstein and Associates. He handled promotional activities for Edgerton Travel, J.E Walz, and Great Northern Distributors. In 1976, his firm merged with Lamport, Fox, Presti, and Doll Inc, forming the AdPro Group. 1961, he was named executive secretary of South Bend-Mishawaka Home Builders Association. During this time, he was appointed by South Bend Mayor John Scott to head a committee that conducted a study of housing problems in South Bend. In 1953, he helped to organize the local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders, serving as executive secretary until 1967. In 1965, he was appointed to the Economic Council of the National Association of Home Builders

Mr. Klopfenstein was born March 17, 1920, in South Bend and lived in this area all of his life. On Oct. 3, 1942, in Falmouth, Mass, he married Barbara Irene Keller, who survives. Also surviving are daughter, Karen O'Neal of Connersville, Ind.; two sons, Keith A Jr. of Oak Park, Ill, and Kent of Rockville, Md; four grandchildren; and a sister, Janice Graves of New Milford, Conn.

He was a member of St. Michael of All Angels Episcopal Church. He received a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Indiana University in 1947. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

Services will be at a later date There will be no visitation. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood, handled arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to Intensive Care Unit Special Projects of Memorial Hosptial

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

08/17/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147769087/keith-allen-klopfenstein