Ronald "Ronnie" Scott Kleppner

Ronald "Ronnie" Kleppner, age 75, passed away unexpectedly on August, 7th, 2024 in San Angelo,

Texas.

Ronnie was born November 16th, 1948 in San Angelo, Texas to Clarence and Chrystal Kleppner. He graduated from San Angelo Central High School in 1968 and went on to receive his Bachelors in History and Speech in 1972 from Angelo State University. He continued with his education, receiving his Masters Degree in Education and History in 1978 from Sul Ross University, and a certification in Drama Education from Pan-American University in Edinburg, Texas.

His love for history and drama led him to a 24-year career as a teacher where he taught history, drama and speech. Twenty of those years were spent in Houston Independent School District. For several of those years, he taught in Title 1 schools where students needed teachers who simply cared. He combined his love of history and his captivating story-telling ability to create a classroom atmosphere where students could dive into their history books in a fun, positive, and creative environment. Mr. Kleppner was a favorite of most students, because he not only took the time to invest in each student's education, but he was someone who cared about their well-being and challenged them to succeed in specific areas of their life, both educationally and personally.

After a successful run in education, Ronnie retired and moved back to San Angelo to take care of his elderly parents. As an avid historian, you could find him every morning and afternoon with a cup of coffee in hand discussing the ins and outs of his father's World War II missions as a bombardier, journaling it all down in his mind and paper, to later become a walking Encyclopedia of the War, sharing those historical moments with other generations. With his enthusiasm and excitement he had for his father's adventures, he began to research airplanes and learn all he could about those big "birds" in the sky, which led to a new hobby: building and painting model airplanes. After his parents passed, you could catch him taking morning walks, chatting about Dr. Who with his son, comically arguing with his sister about her throwing his little army men out the window on a road trip to Chicago, snacking on peanut butter, or being the great storyteller he was with those who he came into contact with him.

Ronnie is preceded in death but his parents Clarence and Chrystal Kleppner. He is survived by his sister Sherry Crowder, his son Jason Kleppner and his wife Amanda, niece Angela Shanks, husband Jimmy and great-niece Paisley Grace, cousins Barry Broadnax and wife Denise, Terry Merka, and Elliot Menchaca and husband Ricky, all of San Angelo.

On behalf of the family, they would like to send an extended thank you to Comfort Keepers who spent so much time with Ronnie not only caring for him but giving him the gift of friendship and a chance to tell his stories. We know he is "flying high" with his mom and dad telling stories yet once again.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, September 11, 2024 from 6-8 pm at Johnson's Funeral Home. A Graveside service will be held at 2 pm, Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Fairmount Cemetery.

Family and friends may sign the online register book at www.Johnsons-FuneralHome.com.