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Service:
A private family burial will be held. A celebration
of life honoring Kurt and Regina will be announced
at a later date.
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Kurt Douglas Klokkenga,
of Emden, IL, passed away on August 6, 2026, in Hill
City, South Dakota, at the age of 69. He was born
November 30, 1956, in Lincoln, IL, the son of Robert
and Virginia (Behrends) Klokkenga of Hartsburg, IL.
Kurt graduated from Western Illinois University in
1978.
Kurt lived a life marked by family, friendship,
adventure, and an extraordinary passion for
motorcycles. While he appreciated motorcycles of all
kinds, his heart belonged especially to antique and
vintage motorcycles. What began as an interest
became a defining part of his life. Kurt was deeply
knowledgeable about the machines he loved, but
perhaps even more importantly, he loved the people
and friendships that came with them. He became well
known and highly respected in the vintage motorcycle
community. His knowledge, willingness to help, and
genuine passion for riding made him someone others
could count on. Kurt was the kind of enthusiast who
did not simply admire old motorcycles—he understood
them, worked on them, rode them, and helped keep
their history alive. His involvement in
long-distance vintage motorcycle events included
serving as part of the motorcycle sweep crew for the
Motorcycle Cannonball, helping riders and their
machines along the way. His friendships within the
motorcycle community extended far beyond Illinois
and became an important part of his life. But for
all that motorcycles meant to Kurt, his greatest joy
was found in the people he loved. Kurt and Regina
Washam Klokkenga were married for a year and a half,
but those who knew them often spoke of the depth of
their relationship as though they had been together
much longer. Their marriage was a source of great
happiness for Kurt. He embraced Regina’s children,
Nikki and Matt both of Lincoln, as his own, and
Regina’s family became his family in every sense of
the word. Kurt and Regina shared a special bond that
was evident to everyone around them. |
Kurt is survived by
his daughter, Abby Curry (Michael) and family of
Lincoln, IL. He was preceded in death by his son,
Paul Klokkenga, who passed away in 2007.
He is also survived by
his brother, Kendall Klokkenga (Kim) of Glendale,
AZ; sisters Roberta Klokkenga of Springfield, IL,
and Lorna Klokkenga of San Antonio, TX; and by
Regina’s children, daughter, Nikki Chapman and son,
Matt Chapman (Amy) and family, all of Lincoln, IL.
He leaves behind his nephew, Matthew Klokkenga
(Melissa) and his family of Peoria, AZ; Valerie Barr
(Austin) and her family of Glendale, AZ. Kurt’s
cousin, Mary Anderson and her husband, Tom, of
Hartsburg, IL, and their sons, Robert Anderson of
Lumberton, NJ and Ryan Anderson (Lindsey) of
Lincoln, IL and their children were a constant and
loving presence throughout Kurt’s life.
Kurt will be remembered not only for the motorcycles
he restored, rode, and cherished, but for the
stories, friendships, knowledge, and generosity he
shared along the way. To those in the vintage
motorcycle community, he was a respected and valued
friend. To his family, he was a brother, father,
uncle, cousin, and husband whose place in their
lives can never be replaced.
Kurt and Regina’s lives ended together, leaving
behind a family and a community grieving two lives
that brought tremendous love and joy to those
fortunate enough to know them.
A private family burial will be held. A celebration
of life honoring Kurt and Regina will be announced
at a later date.
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