Malcolm Kleinknecht.

CLINTON - Malcolm Thiede Kleinknecht, 72, of 406 Fernwood Lane, formerly of 21 Clamshell Road, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, July 22, at his home after a brave battle with cancer.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 48 years, Carol (Rauscher) Kleinknecht; a son, Brian Kleinknecht, and his wife, Jeanne; a daughter, Heidi Notaro and her husband, David; four grandsons, Brandon and Joseph Kleinknecht, and David and Dominic Notaro, all of Clinton; two nephews, Philip Devish and his wife, Virginia, of Webster, and Bruce Lehmann of Georgia; many grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also survived by a very special and caring cousin, Jane Krantz of Sterling, and her daughters, Sarah and Alfrieda Krantz. Two sisters, Alfrieda Devish and Esther Lehmann, and a brother, John Kleinknecht, predeceased him.

Mr. Kleinknect was born in Webster, son of the late John and Olga (Thiede) Kleinknecht, and was a 1955 graduate of Bartlett High School, and a 1958 graduate of the New England School of Accounting. He was first employed by Crotty and Kashuk, CPAs of Worcester, and later joined the partnership of Crotty, Kleinknecht and Ojerholm, CPAs, also of Worcester, before establishing a private practice, which he continued until 1993. Presently, he was employed by Schonbeck & Vostok, LLP of Clinton. He was also president of L. Rauscher & Sons Plumbing and Heating of Clinton for many years. A former member of the National Guard, he served for eight years as a clerk for the Webster Division.

An active and devoted member of Lions Club International, he served on its many boards and committees on town, district and state levels, and was a former member of the Clinton Lions, and a current member of the Worcester Host Club. He was also a past president of Massachusetts Eye Research from 1994 to 1995; district governor of Multiple District 33A from 1997 to 1998, president of Sight and Hearing Fund, and past president of the Germania Social Club of Worcester. He was awarded a Melvin Jones Fellow for his dedication to humanitarian service by the Lions Club International Foundation.

He also served as a member of the Clinton Community Development Corporation in its early stages in 1980, and was a corporator of the Clinton Savings Bank, due to retire this October. He was also a former member of the Clinton Lodge of Elks.

Mr. Kleinknecht enjoyed traveling with his wife, Carol, through the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Scandinavia, and most recently, Mexico. His favorite getaway was to the southern coast of Maine, where he enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles at Nubble Lighthouse.

He was a devout Christian. Currently, he held the Office of the Treasurer of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 25, at 10 a.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church, 117 Chace St. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ev. Trinity Lutheran Church, Handicap Access Fund, 117 Chace St., Clinton, MA 01510, or to the MA Lions Eye Research, c/o PDG William T. Murphy, P.O. Box 6050, New Bedford, MA 02742-6050. For online condolences, go to www.mcnallywatson.com.

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