John A. Klein

John A. Klein

John Anton Klein of Stevens Point passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 11, surrounded by loving family, at home, in the very room where he had been born 93 years earlier.

John was the fifth of seven children of Franz (Frank) and Johanna (Grzesiak) Klein. He was baptized at St. Peter's Catholic Church and educated in Catholic schools before graduating from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1949. He was attending what was then known as Wisconsin State College-Stevens Point when the Korean War broke out. John enlisted in the Coast Guard, serving on Lake Superior, and then in Hawaii, as an electronics technician.

Following his honorable discharge, John returned home to work alongside his father and older brother Alois (Al) at Frank's Hardware, the store that his Polish immigrant father had acquired in 1942. John and Al co-owned the store through 1992, when John retired, and the store passed on to Al's sons, Eric (Rick) and Mark.

Although they later divorced, John's marriage to Jacqueline (Andelman) Klein was blessed with three children: sons John C. of Rochester, NY, and James of Stevens Point, and a daughter, Judith (Brooke) Haynes of Topeka, KS.

Living in the house where he and his siblings grew up, John hosted his further flung siblings and children whenever they came into town and faithfully cared for his mother until her passing in 1997. His house was home for generations of family, filled with noise and laughter especially for Sunday dinners, when it spilled over with the sounds of playing grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents and by five of his siblings: Grace (Paul) Borham, Zita (Thomas) Rogers-Logan, Marie Klein, Alois (Janice) Klein, and Sister Miriam Therese, OCD ("Ginger")

He is survived by his sister, Margaret (Thomas) Drury ("Midge") of Silver Springs, MD, by his sister-in-law Janice, by his three children, and by a daughter-in-law, Susan Crawford.

He is also survived by 14 grandchildren: John B. Haynes, Franz (Rosemary) Klein, Stephen (Gitanya) Klein, James (Nikki) Klein, Oliver (Madison) Klein, Johanna (Jonathan) McIntyre, Gabrielle Klein, Zebulun (Lauren) Klein, Susan Klein, Ryann Klein, Kimberley Klein, Xavier (Alliey) Klein, Anton Klein, and Tobias Klein. And he is survived by 22 great-grandchildren, plus one on the way.

The family would especially like to highlight the devotion and care of Susan Crawford and Johanna McIntyre in the last few years, plus that of his caregiver, Karen Smedbron, who also became a dear friend to him.

John's wake will be Thursday, Jan. 16, at Pisarski Funeral Home, 703 Second Street, Stevens Point, beginning at 4 p.m. and concluding with a sharing of memories and rosary from 5-6 p.m. There will also be visitation on Friday, Jan. 17, beginning at 10 a.m. in the St. Faustina Room at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 800 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point, up to the time of the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by the Rev. Todd Mlsna. Interment will be at Guardian Angel Cemetery, 801 Soo Marie Ave, Stevens Point, followed by the funeral lunch at Michele's Supper Club, 513 Division St, Stevens Point.

May the soul of John Anton and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. And may perpetual light shine upon them. Prosi o Zdrowaś Maryjo!

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