A face many see around OHS is head custodian John Klevorn, who always has a smile on his face as he completes many tasks throughout the building. This isn’t the only job experience he has had, though.
“I did lots of jobs ever since I was 15 years old,” Klevorn said. “I was a paperboy, I caddied at a golf course, and I worked at Anheuser-Busch loading trucks and then I joined the military…”
After doing 20+ years in the military, Klevorn retired and started his job as a custodian for MSD, though this wasn’t his initial plan.
“It is actually, I would say, somewhat by accident because what had happened is I had a top secret clearance from the military and I thought I was going to work for the government, but government jobs were all frozen, and there was not anything available,” Klevorn said. “My dad had happened to be a custodian back in the early 90s and knew the boss.”
Skills can be carried over in nearly all jobs, and Klevorn has one skill in particular that has carried over into his career as a custodian.
“One thing that has always been embedded in my head, and one thing you learn in the military, is attention to detail, I mean just little things…” Klevorn said. “I had a superior that asked me one time to pick something up and I didn’t see it, well I did see it, so I just picked it up, and ever since then it has always been that detail.”
Initially, Klevorn worked on day shift at SCOPE, but he has worked at several of the schools in the district over the years.
“While I was there, I was actually night head custodian here from 2013-2014, then a day position opened up in Forder Elementary and I did about eight years there,” Klevorn said. “Then a position opened up here, and I have been here since 2021.”
Part of what Klevorn has enjoyed about his position is his interactions with students and staff within the building.
“I actually love just being here in general. I like watching some of the kids prosper and see where they go on to be,” Klevorn said. “Like some of the individuals here are the ones that were at Forder Elementary when I was there. Some of the kids that were there in kindergarten are freshmen here now.”
In Klevorn’s time here, he has made close friendships, particularly with science teacher Nicholas Traxler.
“He is the most dedicated and loyal individual that I have met in this district who constantly has a smile on his face and is willing to help anybody out,” Traxler said.
Another coworker who works alongside Klevorn every day is custodian Albert Kaiser. Although they have only known each other a few years, they have grown to be great friends.
“It’s been a pleasure [working with him],” Kaiser said. “John’s a real super guy to work for, easy to get along with, not demanding at all.”
Although Klevorn’s colleagues are sad to see him go, it may be that they will still be able to see him from time to time.
“Right now I will probably come back and sub sometimes, and I definitely will probably play some more golf than I get to play now,” Klevorn said.
Although Klevorn is looking forward to upping his golf game, he will still miss OHS.
“It’s been a pleasure working here at Oakville High School. Don’t get me wrong, I will miss it…” Klevorn said. “It’s been a great time and a pleasure.”
