Jacob I. Kleppinger, 98, of Luther Crest, formerly of Emmaus, died Sept. 22, 2026, at Lehigh Valley Inpatient Hospice Unit in Allentown. He and his wife, Josephine (Stoudt) Kleppinger, celebrated 77 years of marriage this past year. Born in Northampton, he was the son of the late Jacob I. Kleppinger Sr. and Anna M. (Gardner) Faust.

He was an auto and truck mechanic by trade, last working for and retiring from the East Penn School District.

He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as an Engineman

He was member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Emmaus.

He is survived by his wife; children, Dale and his wife, Donna, Penny Harries and her husband, Bert and David and his wife, Joanne; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his great-grandson, Daniel Jacob Harries; two sisters; a brother.

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Oct. 2 at St. John’s UCC, 139 N. Fourth St., Emmaus. A visitation will begin 9 a.m. in the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lehigh Valley Hospice, 2024 Lehigh St., Allentown, 18103 or the church, 139 N. Fourth St., Emmaus, 18049.

Arrangements by Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Emmaus.