Erwin K. Klungler

Erwin K. Klungler, 89, of Gorham, NH, passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, after a period of failing health. He was born on May 7, 1936, in Nurnberg, Germany, and was the son of the late Karl Klungler and Maria Schultz. He grew up in Nurnberg, where he played football (soccer) in his youth, and attended machinist trade school in the city transportation district. Upon completing trade school, Erwin went to work for the Hempel Co. in Nurnberg, which manufactured wood turning lathes. In 1956, he was offered an opportunity to immigrate to the United States, Kingfield, Maine, to work for the Winters Mill. It was in Kingfield that his met his wife, Shirley. They married on June 20, 1959.

The couple moved to New York in 1968, where he took a job with Henry Wiegand Co., selling Hempel wood turning lathes. They later moved to Claremont, NH, where they resided for many years. His passion for sports moved with him, and he soon became an ardent fan of the New England teams. Avid travelers, Erwin and Shirley journeyed their way around the world together, partaking in a wide breadth of adventures throughout the US and Europe. Even when their travels kept them closer to home, they took great enjoyment in exploring locally. Erwin was a masterful travel planner, and readily coordinated several trips for family, friends, and even people who worked for the Hempel Co. He also loved to drive, and didn’t mind the hundreds of thousands of miles spent on the road during their weekly summer trips to Kingfield throughout the years, whether it was to the family camp they maintained, or to Shirley’s family homestead. In 2005, they decided to relocate halfway between Claremont and Kingfield, settling in Gorham, NH, after falling in love with the community.

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 and nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Wilbur) Klungler, in 2025.

A joint graveside service will be held for Erwin and Shirley’s family and friends on May 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM, at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Kingfield, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in their memory to either Bridget’s Closet or North Country Relief Funds at 133 Pleasant St., Berlin NH, 03570 in care of Bridget LaFlamme. Arrangements are entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Homes of Berlin & Gorham, NH. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.bryantfuneralhome.net.