Leland Myer Klinetobe, 84, of Vero Beach, passed away on Feb. 21, 2014.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sally Schmitt Klinetobe; four children, Michael Klinetobe (Helen), Laurie Crowe (Greg), Dan Klinetobe, and Carol Baker (Ted); eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sept. 19, 1929, to Ruth Klinetobe Schmitt and Ted Klinetobe.
He served in the army for four years before studying political science at the University of Washington in Seattle. Most of Klinetobe’s business career was in textiles. He became president of Hanes Knitwear in 1978. He was president and finally owner of Stedman in Asheboro, N.C., and then CEO of Pannill Knitting of Martinsville, Va.
He and his wife moved to Vero Beach in 1988 where he became involved in the community on the board of the Environmental Learning Center. He was elected to the board of Indian River Medical Center in 1996, and he became chairman in 2002. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Lee’s McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C., and also served on the board of the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic minister.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32963 or VNA – Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
There will be a private family service at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, N.C. An online guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
