Henry Elicker Klugh Iii

Klugh, Henry Elicker III

Passed away peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Henry Ford Hospice Home of Jackson, at 96 years of age. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Henry was also a long-time resident of Alma, Michigan, Traverse City, Michigan, and a recent resident of Jackson, Michigan. He was the only child of the late Henry Elicker Klugh, Jr. and Sara Florentine Shilling Klugh.

Henry is survived by his wife of 34 years, Barbara Ezzard O'Reilly Klugh; sons Henry Elicker Klugh IV and his wife, Amy, of Boulder, Colorado; Thomas Palmer Klugh and his wife, Druet, of North Liberty, Iowa; stepsons Michael O'Reilly and his wife, Christi, of Jackson, Michigan; Thomas O'Reilly and his wife, Cheryl, of Jackson, Michigan; grandchildren Jared and his wife Megan, Austen, Caitlin, Brayden, and great-granddaughter Laken.

In his youth, Henry became a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He spent four summers as a camp counselor for children with disabilities, mostly due to polio. During World War II, Henry served in the US Army Air Force for two years, stationed at Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado. After his military service, Henry continued his education. He graduated from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and went on to earn his MS and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in the field of experimental psychology. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Zi honor societies. While in graduate school, he married Barbara Penman Jones of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, with whom he had two sons. Moving to Alma to take up his position of department head at the Alma College Psychology Department, Henry taught psychology and research statistics for his entire 30-year career. During that time, he wrote three editions of "Statistics: The Essentials for Research," for which he still receives royalties.

After his retirement, Henry met Barbara O'Reilly in Lansing in 1986, and she finally persuaded him to marry her in 1989. Henry loved to fish. He could stand in the stream for hours fishing for steelhead trout. He and Barbara spent many happy years traveling around the country in their RV, and especially enjoyed visiting our national parks. They also traveled through Europe and took breaks from Michigan winters by cruising the Caribbean almost every year. Henry liked to watch football on TV, and he and Barbara always wore their Detroit Lions shirts on game days. Henry also continued writing and wrote several novels and books of short stories filled with gentle humor. When remembering Henry, it will come to mind by those who knew him that he was always a gentleman and always a teacher. He will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend a small memorial service at the Desnoyer Funeral Home, 204 N. Blackstone, Jackson, on Wednesday, December 27 at 11:00 am with Reverend Bart Hall officiating with visitation one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry's memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders or the charity of the donor's choice.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers in Traverse City and Jackson who assisted Henry and the staff at Henry Ford Hospice Home for the exceptional care and compassionate support they gave to Henry and Barbara.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 133 Years