Fidan Klenjoski

Fidan Klenjoski, 79, passed away early in the morning on December 16, 2024, leaving behind a legacy as complex and fiery as the man himself. Born on March 15, 1945, in Jablanica, Macedonia, Former Yugoslavia, Fidan lived life on his own terms, driven by strong convictions, unflinching principles, and a sharp sense of humor that often caught people off guard.

He grew up in the mountains of Jablanica and served in the Yugoslavian military for four years, where his entrepreneurial streak shone early as the army’s unofficial barber, giving his famous haircuts even when he wasn’t supposed to. In 1968, he married Petkana Belkoceska, beginning a remarkable union that spanned over 56 years. Together, they began a courageous journey that took them from Macedonia to Austria and, finally, to the United States, where they built a life filled with both challenges and triumphs amidst the Macedonian Orthodox community in Northern Ohio.

Fidan was never one to shy away from sharing his opinions—whether it was parenting advice (he firmly believed, “if they don’t eat the food they take, you pour it down their shirt”) or his distrust of government and consumerism. He believed society placed too much value on new things, and celebrated finding treasures at flea markets and garage sales, restoring them to their original quality or even better. “They don’t make things like they used to,” he’d often say, spotting the potential in every vintage find. He did not tolerate wastefulness and questioned the status quo, often challenging others to do the same.

He had the immigrant work ethic—making sacrifices and working hard to get ahead. He spent a good portion of his career as a mechanical maintenance engineer at Dorn Color Card. But Fidan’s true workshop was at home, where he spent countless hours fixing anything and everything. From remodeling the basement to repairing electronics and cars, he had a gift for solving problems with ingenuity and frugality.

Fidan was not always easy to know. He was opinionated and exacting, holding himself and others to high standards. Yet, beneath his strong exterior was a man who valued thoughtfulness and care, whether he was crafting a joke to make his grandchildren laugh or sharing a hard-won piece of wisdom. His humor was sharp, his stories legendary, and his ability to provoke deep conversation unmatched. He was a man of opposition and resilience, a thinker who lived by his own rules. For all his complexities, he lived authentically and unapologetically.

He is survived by his wife, Petkana Klenjoski; daughter Regina and son-in-law Stephen Schmidt with grandchildren Cristian, Nikolas, and Julian; and son Daniel and daughter-in-law Karianne with grandchildren Kaitlyn and Owen.

May his memory be eternal, and his passionate spirit forever remembered.