John Anton Klein, 93
John Anton Klein, 93, of Stevens Point, died peacefully at home Saturday, Jan. 11, surrounded by his family in the same room where he was born.
John was the fifth of seven children born to Franz (Frank) and Johanna (née Grzesiak) Klein. He was baptized at St. Peter’s Catholic Church and attended Catholic schools, graduating from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1949. He attended what was then Wisconsin State College-Stevens Point before enlisting in the Coast Guard during the Korean War, serving on Lake Superior and later in Hawaii as an electronics technician. Following his honorable discharge, John returned to work alongside his father and older brother, Alois (Al), at Frank’s Hardware, which his Polish immigrant father had acquired in 1942. John and Al co-owned the store until 1992, when John retired, and the store was passed to Al’s sons, Eric (Rick) and Mark.
John’s marriage to Jacqueline (née Andelman) Klein, though later ending in divorce, resulted in three children: John C. of Rochester, N.Y.; James of Stevens Point; and Judith (Brooke) Haynes of Topeka, Kan. John continued to live in the family home, where he hosted relatives and cared for his mother until her death in 1997. His home became a lively gathering place for generations of family, especially on Sundays, when the house filled with the sounds of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his parents and five 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.; his sister-in-law, Janice Klein; three children; and 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; 22 great-grandchildren, with one on the way.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Susan Crawford, Johanna McIntyre and his caregiver, Karen Smedbron, for their devoted care in John’s final years.
A wake will be held at Pisarski Funeral Home, 703 Second St., Stevens Point, on Thursday, Jan. 16, beginning at 4 p.m., followed by a sharing of memories and rosary from 5 to 6 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. in the St. Faustina Room at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 800 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point, until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. celebrated by the Rev. Todd Mlsna. Burial will follow at Guardian Angel Cemetery, 801 Soo Marie Ave., with a luncheon afterward at Michele’s Supper Club, 513 Division St.
May John’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.