Robert (Bob) Klungle was born in Petoskey, Michigan on April 7, 1941 to Leonard and Ida May Klungle. Bob passed away in Henderson, Nevada on August 31, 2024 at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Donna Klungle, his daughters Kristina Sutten (Chet) and Jeanine Newcomb, and his granddaughter, Taylor Florez (Meranda).
Bob attended Flint Technical High School where he was named top winner of the Flint Science Fair in 1958 which won him a five-day cruise aboard the Naval Aircraft Carrier USS Kearsarge. He enrolled at Michigan State University in 1961. Like so many others, he felt compelled to serve his country during the Vietnam Era and enlisted in the Air Force in July 1963. The Air Force introduced him to software engineering and computer programming which launched his lifelong profession. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1967, he received a BS in Computer Science/Mathematics and an MBA from the University of Maryland. He also received an MS in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas. He taught at various colleges/universities and advanced technical classes provided at companies at which he worked. Bob worked for Sperry UNIVAC and Texas Instruments. His love for Aeronautics and Astronautics eventually led to jobs at Hughes Aircraft Company and The Aerospace Corporation.
Throughout his life, Bob pursued multiple interests.
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In his teens, Bob set up his first chemistry lab in the basement of his family’s home. He loved experimentation and this passion led to an explosion that destroyed his lab as well as his mother’s canning jars. A feat for which she never forgave him.
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For many years he participated in competitive roller skating. In his late forties he placed fourth nationally in Esquire Dance just missing the bronze medal.
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He had a private and a commercial pilot license. Flight opened his world to many adventurous trips. His unfulfilled dream was to experience spaceflight preferably on a Falcon 9. Many thanks to the Celestis team for making his wish become a reality.
A longtime family friend, Travis Toronjo, summed up Bob’s personality in the following words:
"He was a singularly fascinating guy, and I was always impressed with how any time spent with him was an experience.”
