Lakeview resident counting his blessings after surviving cancer, 2024 tornado
There’s truly no place like home, as William “Bill” and Marilyn Klinker of Lakeview can attest, following the happenings of the past two years.
Their home on a peaceful, tree-lined street in the village where they’ve lived for the past 42 years will be the site of a Thanksgiving gathering next week with their children and grandchildren, and for holiday get-togethers coming up in December, too.
The couple has weathered a difficult battle with cancer that pulled them away from their residence beginning in July of 2023, spending many nights in a hotel to be close to the OSU James Cancer Hospital in Columbus for Bill’s frequent radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
Then about three months after his cancer treatments were completed in December of 2023, the husband and wife faced significant damage to their beloved home after the EF3 tornado struck the Indian Lake area in March of 2024.
With Bill still regaining his strength after his cancer treatments, the Klinkers hired a contractor to make the needed repairs to the siding, windows and the roof of their house.
However, months later, only the installation of windows and siding had been completed, and their roof had not been touched, even though they’d already paid the contractor for a roof replacement. The couple was devastated to learn that their contractor had been incarcerated on two felonies after scamming them and other victims of natural disasters out of thousands of dollars.
While still trying to recover from the financial fallout of that situation, the couple was elated and most grateful to receive some good news just last week.
Bill, a U.S. Navy veteran, received a phone call on Veterans Day from Lee’s Roofing regarding the company’s fifth annual veteran roof giveaway.
“I found out that I’d been named the recipient of their roof giveaway this year and I about fell on the floor,” Bill said this week, with a wide smile on his face.
Marilyn and the couple’s daughters had nominated their dedicated husband and father for this honor, which the company has made an annual tradition since 2021.
The Klinkers said Lee’s Roofing delivered the new shingles and other supplies just a day or two later, and then made quick work of installing the much needed and appreciated new roof on Friday, Nov. 14, all free of charge to the couple.
“They did great work; and thank you so much,” Bill said to project manager Travis Predmore and shaking his hand during a follow-up visit to their home Thursday, Nov. 20.
“They were here on Friday at 7 a.m., a crew of eight, and they had the roof all finished and everything cleaned up by 3 p.m. that afternoon. It was incredible, and we are beyond grateful.
“This is the third roof we’ve had put on the house, and hopefully it will last for the rest of my life,” the 70-year-old noted.
Roofing company owner Lee Wilcoxon previously said the roof giveaway has been such a rewarding annual project since its inception. The company enjoys getting to know the veterans and offering them this long-lasting gift at Veterans Day to thank them for their service and sacrifice.
Again this year, Lee’s Roofing received many deserving area veteran nominees for the
program, and it’s always a difficult decision to determine the winner, Mr. Wilcoxon said.
“A lot of it is based on need and the current shape of the roof — where we can make the most difference for the veteran.”
A native of Lima, Bill grew up around Indian Lake, attending elementary and middle school here, before moving to Colorado with his family. He said he entered the U.S. Navy in 1974, serving in Pensacola, Fla.
“We trained pilots to land and take off from the ship each week,” he said, also pointing out a replica he created of the 1,000-foot-long ship he worked on, the U.S.S. Lexington. “I loved it; it was a great duty.”
He served mostly stateside in the Navy, but did spend time in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for training. He was honorably discharged in 1977, and then he and Marilyn married in October of 1981.
Following his military service, Bill served as a truck driver for Budweiser for 40 years, retiring in 2018 at the age of 62.
In 2023, he was diagnosed with cancer at the back of his tongue, his wife noted, and his treatments involved 33 radiation treatments, along with chemotherapy.
“With Bill going through radiation every day, we stayed at a hotel Monday through Friday during the week, and were only home on weekends,” Marilyn explained. “That made us
really appreciate any times that we could be at home.
“The treatments were really hard on him, and he lost a lot of weight. He was just trying to regain his stamina when we got hit by the tornado.”
The Klinkers were home when the deadly tornado struck Indian Lake on March 14, 2024. They said they hunkered down in their bathroom together and waited out the storm. Thankfully, they weren’t injured in all of destruction.
“We really feel like God was really watching out for us that day; we really can’t explain it any other way,” Marilyn related, through a few tears.
With the many hardships of the last several years, the married couple of 44 years is looking forward to spending time at home under their new roof for an especially meaningful holiday season, catching up with their five children and 11 grandchildren, who range in age from 3-26 years old.
“We’re excited to have the time together, and are hopeful for a good year ahead,” Marilyn said.
