Person Page - 1965

     Some sources record that Gertrude C. Klinger was born on 1 July 1900, Millersburg, Dauphin County, PA.⁴ She was born on 1 July 1900, Liverpool, Perry County, PA.^1,5,6 She was the daughter of Charles Arthur Klinger and Emma E. Kline.^2,3 Electronic records online of Gertrude's second marriage list her father as "Arthur Klinger" and her mother as "Emma Kline." At the time the 1900 Census data was collected, one month before Gertrude's birth, her mother Emma Kline was single and living in Liverpool, Perry County, PA, with her parents, Edwin and Mary Kline. At the time of the 1910 Census, when Gertrude was 9 years old, she was living with Edwin and Mary Kline in Millersburg, PA, and was listed as their granddaughter.
There is only one Arthur Klinger listed in the 1900 Census in Perry County, who was also listed as single and living with his parents, "S.E." and Agnes Klinger on Market Street in Liverpool. The 1900 Census lists only one other Arthur Klinger of remotely the right age living in Pennsylvania, and that was 14 year-old Arthur Klinger, son of Wesley and Ellen Klinger, living in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County, PA, approximately 75 miles away.
The Arthur Klinger living in Liverpool and Emma were roughly the same age. This and the closeness of their residences make it likely that this Arthur Klinger was Gertrude's father.
Likewise, Gertrude's application for a marriage license on her second marriage, to Lester Rigler, lists her parents as "Arthur Klinger" and "Emma Kline." It also indicates that her father lived in Altoona and was a "railroader" who was born in Perry County. This is consistent with Arthur's obituary, but it fails to mention Gertrude as a surviving daughter.^6,7,8,9 At the time of the 1910 Census, Gertrude was living with her grandparents, Edwin and Mary Kline, in Millersburg, PA.¹⁰ Gertrude C. Klinger married John Reilly Wenrich, son of John T. Wenrich and Mary A. Wade, in 1917.^11,12,4 Gertrude C. Klinger married Lester F. Rigler on 23 June 1936, Dauphin County, PA.³ The following newspaper article appeared on the occasion of Gertrude's 100th birthday:
Living a century surprises brand-new 100-year-old
Masonic Homes resident Gertrude "Jill" Rigler never thought she would reach her 100th birthday, and she can't explain how she did.
I have no secret (to living a whole century). I did just what I wanted to do, although not always when I wanted to do it, Rigler said.
She was born in Millersburg on July 1, 1900, and was raised by her grandparents, Jacob and Emma Rhan. She had a brother, Chester, who was 12 years her junior.
She married John Jack Wenrich in 1917. They had three children: a daughter, Martha Feidt of Arizona, and two sons, Earl Wenrich of Hummelstown and the late Richard Wenrich.
Her first husband died in 1923. In 1936, she married her second husband, Lester Rigler, who had been a school chum. She became a widow for the second time when he died in 1959.
A Lutheran, she enjoys devotions and vesper services at Masonic Homes. She also enjoys music therapy at the nursing home, where she plays the sticks and bells.
Lancaster New Era (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), 01 Jul 2000, Sat, Page 12.
It is not clear if all of the facts listed in this article are correct. First, other sources indicate that she was born in Liverpool, Perry County. Second, the reference to her brother "Chester" appears to refer to Chester Leroy Rahn, who was Gertrude's half brother, a son of Emma Kline and her second husband, Jacob T. Rahn.^4,13 Gertrude C. Klinger died on 10 March 2005, Masonic Home, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, PA, at age 104.¹ She was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA.¹

     Emma E. Kline was born on 8 October 1879.¹ She was the daughter of Edwin Kline and Mary M. Forney.² Emma E. Kline married Charles Arthur Klinger, son of Cerenus Klinger and Agnes A. Frank. Some sources list a marriage between Charles Arthur Klinger and Emma Kiine in 1899, but in the 1900 Census listings for Liverpool, Perry County, both Arthur and Emma are living with their respective parents and are listed as single. More likely, they married soon after the 1900 Census was taken.^3,4,5 Emma E. Kline died on 11 May 1963, Kettering Nursing Home, Palmyra, Lebanon County, PA, at age 83.^1,2 She was buried on 14 May 1963, at Hummelstown Cemetery, Hummelstown, Dauphin County, PA.^2,1

     Edwin Kline married Mary M. Forney.¹

     Mary M. Forney married Edwin Kline.¹

     John Reilly Wenrich was born on 26 August 1900, Dauphin County, PA.¹ He was the son of John T. Wenrich and Mary A. Wade.¹ John Reilly Wenrich married Gertrude C. Klinger, daughter of Charles Arthur Klinger and Emma E. Kline, in 1917.^1,2,3 John Reilly Wenrich died on 7 December 1923, Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA, at age 23.^1,4 He was buried on 10 December 1923, at Heckton Cemetery, Heckton, Dauphin County, PA; A newspaper article noted:
FUNERAL FOR JOHN R. WENRICH
The funeral of John R. Wenrich, who died Friday was held thie afternoon at 1 o'clock from the home his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Wenrich, a mile south of town. Burial was in the Heckton Cemetery.^1,4,5

     Lester F. Rigler was born on 28 April 1900, Dauphin County, PA.² He married Gertrude C. Klinger, daughter of Charles Arthur Klinger and Emma E. Kline, on 23 June 1936, Dauphin County, PA.¹ Lester F. Rigler died on 13 May 1959, Harrisburg Hospital, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA, at age 59.^2,3 He was buried on 16 May 1959, at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA.^3,2