Frank Klipsch

Frank Joseph Klipsch III passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on February 10, 2026 from complications of a stroke.

Frank was born on August 5, 1949 in St. Louis, MO to Frank II and Evelyn (Giles) Klipsch. From an early age, his enormous heart and work ethic were evident. Frank was the oldest of seven children and shined as a leader. The ultimate son and big brother, he worked summers at The Muny Theatre as a stagehand to help support his family. He cared for his younger siblings and was an excellent student and a standout football player, voted to the first-ever Missouri State High School All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. After graduating from St. John Vianney High School, he attended college at Southwest Missouri State on a football scholarship.

Frank married his best friend and love of his life, Terre Mueller on August 7, 1970. After graduating from college together, they moved to Tucson, AZ, where he pursued his master’s degree in sports psychology. The two camped and hiked across the southwest, creating lasting memories and friendships. It was in Tucson that Frank began his career with the YMCA. He and Terre also started a women’s gymnastics program that grew to over 300 young women. In 1976, they welcomed their first son, Frank Joseph Klipsch IV.

In 1979, the family moved to Naperville, IL, where Frank took on the role of Associate Executive of the Naperville YMCA. Jake Mueller Klipsch was born in June of 1979, followed soon thereafter by Zachary Edward Klipsch in September of 1981. Always open to new opportunities to provide for his family, they moved back to their beloved Southwest in 1984, where he continued his Y career in Roswell, NM. In 1986 Frank and Terre welcomed Kaitlin Rae Klipsch, whose arrival, according to Frank, completed his life.

In 1987 the family planted deep roots in Davenport, IA where Frank took on the role of CEO of the Scott County Family Y. Over his 27 years as CEO, he took the Y from one recreation center and Camp Abe Lincoln to five recreation centers and Camp. His final years as CEO were spent laying the groundwork for the Davenport Early Learning Center and the R. Richard Bittner YMCA. Over the course of his career, Frank raised over $100 million for capital and annual campaigns, ensuring anyone who wanted to be part of the Y community could be, regardless of their ability to pay. On top of his incredible accomplishments fundraising for the Y, Frank happily shared his talent across the broader Quad City community. He built relationships that he treasured and, without fail, worked to serve the greater good. His vision and impact can be felt throughout the Quad Cities. Frank raised hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of service and cultural organizations, helping further his belief that every human being is beloved by God and worthy of dignity, opportunity, and joy.

With the intention of bringing about positive change on a larger scale, Frank entered local politics and was elected Mayor of Davenport in 2015. His two-term tenure as mayor was marked with major economic successes. He was most passionate about bringing people with different viewpoints to the same table, convinced that what we have in common outweighs what divides us.

In 2020, Frank joined American Cruise Lines as Director of City Partnerships & Special Projects. In this role, he took his gifts and talents up and down the Mississippi River. He enjoyed meeting with mayors and city leaders, collaborating with them on ideas to strengthen their cities and towns—much like he did in the Quad Cities.

Frank passionately supported our community on a variety of boards and committees, serving as chairperson of many. The German American Heritage Center, Putnam Museum and Science Center, Center for Active Seniors (CASI), River Music Experience, The Cultural Trust, and Empower Tanzania all benefited from Frank’s leadership and guidance. He served as chairperson of Mississippi River Cities and Towns Association and was the certificate holder of Palmer College Board of Trustees. Frank was active in the NAACP, LULAC, the Davenport Rotary, Downtown Davenport Partnership, and QC Scholars. His impact on civic and cultural life was far-reaching.

Frank and Terre understood that the circumstances in which a person is born shouldn’t decide the promise and hope of the future they wanted. He and Terre invited many young people into their home, taking them under their wing. Whether it was to live with their family for a few days or a few years, or simply to give rides to and from sporting events so kids could participate despite their parents working long hours, they understood that there is no such thing as other people’s children. This value often led Frank to pay for sports equipment, participation fees, groceries, and restaurant tabs for friends, friends of friends, friends of his children and grandchildren, and strangers alike. He gave what he could even when he didn’t have much. He believed we belong to one another and as a result, he took care of people as often and completely as he was able. In his later years, he enjoyed his former players, mentees, and students approaching him with memories and thanks. His generosity was legendary.

For whatever success Frank experienced professionally, his family was his greatest source of pride. He worked tirelessly to build and connect the community and resources to its people, but he worked exponentially harder at being an extraordinary dad, father-in-law, and grandfather.

Frank and Terre built a family based on compassion, love, joy, and humor. Frank built a YMCA community for all, and a thriving, diverse community that was rich in culture, abundant in opportunity, and devoted to uplifting every person, no matter their class, race, religion, or gender. And through it all, he showed up to every game (and coached dozens of teams), every performance, every competition, and wherever in the world Kait was (Japan, Chile, Mexico) because being their father was the role he cherished most. He loved fiercely, encouraged boldly, and supported without condition. His hugs enveloped, and his wisdom carried both compassion and conviction. Even as a respected business leader, he never hesitated to leave a meeting to take a call from his children, no matter how small the reason. His children came to realize that wherever they went in the community, they were already known because their father had spoken of them with unmistakable pride. Though he valued his work and his service, his deepest joy and highest honor was being a dad—and, in time, embracing his children’s partners as his own as well.

Frank’s grandchildren were his great joy. Holidays were legendary under the guidance of his color-coded spreadsheets and insistence on maximum gift giving. Each grandchild enjoyed a special “Eight-Year-Old Trip” to St. Louis and frequent “Papa Days” where his love and time were especially extravagant. He continued to coach baseball teams, celebrate moments big and small, and joyfully provide support to each of his grandchildren’s interests and adventures. He modeled faith, generosity, integrity, honesty, and abundant love to each of them at every opportunity. Frank was always smiling, this is true, but he had a special smile just for his grandchildren, as if the love he had for them was too big for even his body.

Frank is preceded in death by his beloved wife, partner, and best friend of 53 years, Terre, as well as his parents and sister, Gina. He is survived by his children: Frank IV Klipsch and Bri Flynn and Cassius, Julius, and Flynn; Jake and Leslie Klipsch and Oliver, Eli, and Sinta; Zach and Tesi Klipsch and Trysten, Tomas, Tariku, Dailah, and Binyam; Kait and Sy Klipsch-Abudu; and his siblings Kevin (Susan Simpson) Klipsch, Jamie (Lisa) Klipsch, Lori (Frank) Condillire, Gayle Klipsch, Julie (Dave) Eckhoff, and sister-in-law Lee Wortman.

Visitation and funeral services will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, IA. Visitation will take place on Friday, February 13th between 4–6pm, and the funeral will be Saturday, February 14th at 11am. The family invites all to join them for a reception as they celebrate Frank’s life at the Putnam Museum and Science Center immediately following the service. 

Frank believed strongly in leaving the world better than he found it. Memorial contributions may be made to the organization you most associate with his life and work. Whether through a donation, volunteer service, lunch with a friend, or a simple act of kindness, we invite you to generously carry forward his legacy by sharing your life with big, bold, joyful, Papa Frank-style Love.