Anthony F. Kluk, age 82, recently of Raleigh, NC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with his wife of 55 years, Kathleen, sitting next to him. He was devoted to his family and his faith, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His extraordinary presence, faithful example and dry sense of humor is deeply missed by all who were blessed to know him.

Born on August 12, 1944, in Orange County, California while his father served in the armed services. He grew up in Brook Park, Minnesota on his family's farm, a place that left an indelible mark on him and all his many siblings. Tony came from humble beginnings and went on to build a remarkable, accomplished and educated life. He became the first in his family to go to college attending St. John's University in Minnesota on a track scholarship, and completing a PhD in nuclear physics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

Through Vanderbilt University and the Department of Energy, he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In Oak Ridge, he formed many life-long friendships and met and married his wife of 55 years, Kathleen. They moved to the Washington, DC area where Tony continued his work for the Department of Energy during a 41 year long career as a scientist in nuclear waste and environmental management. His career caused him to be invloved in many of the most significant world events involving nuclear energy either before or after.

Tony and Kathy went on to have three children, Christina, Jonathan and Matthew. Already an avid sports fan loyal to the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins (now Commanders), Tony stayed invloved in their children's sports teams for many years whether it was in swimming, baseball, or football. He loved supporting his son, Matthew's college football career at Virginia Military Institute. He continued to support his six grandchildren at sporting events in the same way, attending every soccer, lacrosse, and swimming competition that he could as their biggest suporter and most unforgettable fan. His presence on the sidelines will be dearly missed.

Tony believed that work, service and sacrifice are lifelong duties he owed to his Heavenly Father and he instilled these values in his family members. He served as a leader in his sons' Boy Scout troop, going on many camping trips and leading Matthew to become an Eagle Scout. He was a long-time member of Our Lady of Visitation Parish in Darnestown, Maryland and a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served in many volunteer capacities. After he moved to Raleigh, he attended St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church. He looked forward to the day when he would hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Tony's upbringing on a farm left him with a discerning palate for fresh farm to table ingredients long before it became a national fad. For over 40 years, he grew an extraordinary, large garden with an incredible range of vegetables including lettuces, spinach, tomatos, carrots, pole beans, zucchini squash, yellow squash, butternut squash, and acorn squash, cucumbers, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, corn, watermelon, pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes sunflowers, and many herbs, passing on the same love of gardening to at least three of his grandchildren. Last year, as he was planning to move to Raleigh, neighbors stopped by just to say how amazing and impressive his garden had been all of those years. He also conducted a nearly 40 year war with a family of groundhogs that regularly threatened that garden, for which he was also known.

Tony's family had instilled in him a love of fishing from an early age through many family fishing trips in the land of 10,000 lakes. That love of fishing never left him. For decades, he took his sons and groups of friends finsihing whenever he could. Tony's favorite memories of his son Jonathan that he mentioned often were of the times he spent fishing with him. He regularly took family members and friends early morning trips deep-sea fishing out of the Chesapeake Bay, MD or out of Oregon Inlet, North Carolina for decades.

Tony always believed that scientific advancement, knowledge and education were part of his life as a faithful servant and steward. After retirement, he served as an adjunct professor of nuclear engineering at Catholic University in Washington, DC, and continued to serve as a judge in national science competitions held annually by the Department of Energy.

However, Tony was always happiest when he was with his very large, extraordinary, extended family for whom he bore the greatest loyalty and affection. He loved to play board games and Uno with his grandchildren. Some of the silliest and most favorite memories Lucca, Liliana and Lia have are from this past year and the hours they spent playing board games with him. He looked forward to every family update and kept meticulous track of what all of his many neices and nephews were doing in all of their lives. Tony and Kathy had moved to Raleigh in 2025 to be closer to their grandchildren for what they hoped would be many years together. Even though the time was short, they were to make many sweet memories in the past year.

Tony is survived by his beloved wife, Kathleen; his two sons, Jonathan and Dr. Matthew Kluk; his daughter, Christina; his six grandchildren, Lucca, Liliana, Lia, Hunter, Colton and Genevieve. He is also survived by his brothers, Don (Carol), Robert (Carolyn), and Fr. David Kluk; and his sister, Jane (Danny) Harrell. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Kluk, his mother Margaret (Pirkl) Kluk, his brother, Richard Kluk, and his sister, Mary Zarembo, .

A public visitation will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2026, from 10:00 AM t at Saint Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church in Raleigh, NC. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will take place after the service at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Knights of Columbus or American Parkinson's Disease Assoociation.