Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Harold Klinkefus was killed in an automobile crash when his cruiser was struck by a tractor-trailer on US 34 near Red Oak. Another car attempted to turn left, and the truck attempted to stop suddenly in order to avoid a collision. The truck jack-knifed and struck the side of Patrolman Klinkefus' car, causing him to be ejected. Patrolman Klinkefus was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Iowa State Patrol for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IA-F592EDE3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Klinkefus gave the Iowa State Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Harold Emmerson Klinkefus served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman Harold Emmerson Klinkefus is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.4 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Iowa State Patrol, 9 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold Emmerson Klinkefus's cause is highlighted.
How Harold Emmerson Klinkefus Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Harold Emmerson Klinkefus is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Iowa State Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
