THOMAS E. KLUNZINGER (1944-2025)

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V28 2025 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 28, Number 46, 2025, Article 9

Collector, exhibitor and Assay Commission member Tom Klunzinger of Michigan has passed. -Editor

Thomas E. Klunzinger of East Lansing was born September 11, 1944 in Ann Arbor and passed away on November 13, 2025 in Lansing. He was the son of Willard and Eileen Klunzinger. He lived an eventful if somewhat mis-spent life. Music was always significant for him, as he wrote his first song at age 6; was self-taught in composition; wrote 11 musicals and over a dozen plays, most of which were presented in New York and Los Angeles, in addition to Michigan.

He always depended on the kindness of arrangers. He won the 2011 CTAM Playwriting Competition. He survived numerous mishaps around the world, including a typhoon in Tahiti, arrest in the Peoples Republic of Benin and jumping off a moving train in London. He quickly fell into the family tradition of public service, first running for Congress in Detroit, twice elected to the Meridian Township Board and appointed to the U.S. Assay Commission by President Nixon. He was Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer (at different times) of the Ingham County Republican Party. He was a 50 year member of several numismatic societies and was the only person to win the MSNS Best of Show award in each of six different decades. He was Secretary-Treasurer of The Lansing Coin Club for over 30 years.

"He was heavily involved in the Michigan Numismatic clubs and organizations but I did not know him well. I can say that for decades Tom volunteered and did the grunt work of many National, Regional and Local Clubs and Societies at a multitude of shows, conventions and he often shouldered the most labor intensive of tasks, exhibit coordination and management. He will certainly be missed for his volunteer and organizational efforts."

"Tom and I were involved in many things, most lately of all was Mich-TAMS. While being a very different person, the two of us had interesting conversations, especially lately when I became president of MSNS. I always considered him a friend. He hadn't been well for some time, but this came as a surprise. We found out at the set up of the state show, and set up a memorial area for both him and Chuck Sharpe."

To read the complete article, see:
Thomas E. Klunzinger (https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/obituaries/ppet1332204)