Charles Russell Kleinpeter Jr.

A resident of St Francisville, Russell Kleinpeter died at his home with his family by his side on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the age of 91. Born in Baton Rouge on March 6, 1933, Russell was reared in Baton Rouge by his late parents Frances Maude Dickens Kleinpeter and Charles Russell Kleinpeter, Sr. He attended Baton Rouge High School, The Virginia military Academy and Louisiana State University where he lettered in track and field. Upon graduation, he served in the United States Air Force as a pilot and was honorably discharged at the rank of captain. Returning to civilian life, he flew professionally for several years before returning to a life of farming and ranching. Russell’s agricultural endeavors included commercial beef cattle operations, swine feedlot production and breeding of registered quarter horses. Later in life his interests turned to real estate development. He served as a director of the American Quarter Horse Association, was instrumental in the formation of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Association and was recently inducted into the LQHA Hall of Fame. A devoted husband and father, he modeled many laudable attributes to the benefit of his numerous progeny which include four children, nine grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty-eight years, Marie Antoinette Jolissaint Kleinpeter, and an infant son, Mark Edward Kleinpeter. Russell is survived by three children, Charles Chatsworth “Chat” Kleinpeter, Carroll Louise “Cari” Kleinpeter Luce and Kirk Dickens Kleinpeter; grandchildren, Kelle Kleinpeter Grezaffi, Claire Kleinpeter Meyer, Katherine Kleinpeter Richardson, Caroline Kleinpeter Moore, Anna Christine Kleinpeter Jones, Kristen Kleinpeter Triche, Kirk Russell “Rusty” Kleinpeter, Jamie Kleinpeter Robertson and Kimberley Kleinpeter Dunbar; great grandchildren, Charles David Grezaffi, Andrew “Drew” Grezaffi, IV, Anna Kleinpeter Grezaffi, Mary Davis Grezaffi, Sara Lyles Grezaffi, Elizabeth Claire “Liz” Meyer, Catherine Jane “Caki” Meyer, Virginia Caroline “Ginny” Meyer, Madeline Frances “Mae” Meyer, Chatsworth Mitchell “Chat” Richardson, Mary Katherine Richardson, Charles Kleinpeter “Klein” Moore, Margaret Posey Moore, Eleanor Frances “Nellie” Moore, Camille Louise Moore, Marie Jolissaint Moore, Emma Hardin Jones, Rosalie Frances Jones, Andrew Morgan Jones, Anna Easterling Jones, Gracyn Kleinpeter, Kirk Ruston Kleinpeter, Rhett Kleinpeter, Olivia Triche, Bodie Triche, Ava Claire Robertson, Lane Robertson and Carlie Dunbar. A private family graveside service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St Francisville. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Family Association.