Erwin K. Klungler

Erwin K. Klungler, 89, of Gorham, New Hampshire, passed away on March 9, 2026, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon following a period of failing health. Born on May 7, 1936, in Nurnberg, Germany, he was the son of the late Karl Klungler and Maria Schultz. Erwin grew up in Nurnberg, where he played soccer as a young man and trained as a machinist in the city transportation district. He began his career at the Hempel Co., a manufacturer of wood turning lathes. In 1956, he immigrated to Kingfield, Maine, to work at the Winters Mill. It was there that he met Shirley, whom he married on June 20, 1959.

The couple moved to New York in 1968, where Erwin joined the Henry Wiegand Co. selling Hempel wood turning lathes. They later settled in Claremont, New Hampshire, for many years. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he became a devoted follower of New England teams. Erwin and Shirley shared a deep love of travel, exploring destinations across the United States and Europe. He was a gifted travel planner who organized memorable trips for family, friends, and colleagues from Hempel. He also cherished long drives, never tiring of the many miles traveled during their frequent summer visits to Kingfield to tend to the family camp and Shirley’s family homestead. In 2005, they moved to Gorham, New Hampshire, drawn to the warmth of the community that lay halfway between Claremont and Kingfield.

Erwin is survived by his son, Scott (Marcia); three grandsons, Kyle (Kari), Daniel (Lizzy), and Samuel; and five great-grandchildren, Nanci, Rikki, Heidi, Duncan, and Lawson; along with nieces, great-nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Wilbur) Klungler, in 2025.