Klein, William, 1863-1939

KLEIN

Posted By: Alma Langstraat-volunteer (email)
Date: 3/8/2010 at 13:25:56

Unknown Newspaper----l939
Early Settler Laid To Rest
The funeral for Wm. Klein was held Friday morning, February 24, 1939, with services in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hospers, in charge of Rev. Fr. John Thoennissen, and was attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends, Catholics and non-Catholics, wad was one of the largest funerals ever held in St. Anthony's church. It was also the first funeral held in the new St. Anthony's church--a church the deceased helped build and of which he was a devoute member in his lifetime. After the services in the church the body was laid to rest in St. Anthony's cemetery nearby.
Six of his sons, Peter, Wm.B., John, Henry J., Josepth, and Lawrence acted as pallbearers and carried their father to his last resting place, while the eldest Theodore and the daughters Sister M. Angela Ann, and Mary supported their grief-stricken widowed mother.
William Klein was born at Mendota, Illinois, on September 26, l863, and died Tuesday, Feb.21,l939, aged 75 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
On January 27, l89l, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Metzen at Saint Peter's and Paul's church at Peterstown, Illinois. To this union ten children were born, one of whom preceeded their father in death, a daughter, Margaret, who died at the age of l8 years. He is thus survived by his widow and nine children as mentioned above, who are left to mourn the loss of a patient, kind, generous, and indulgent husband and father.
Mr. Klein was a member of the Holy Name society of St. Anthony's church and the Hospers members attended in a body.
Prior to his retirement Mr. Klein was engaged in farming. He farmed near Mendota, Illinois, until march 1, l90l, when the family moved to Iowa, locating on a farm near Hospers, where he farmed until l936 when he moved to Hospers. Here he found and enjoyed the companionship of a large circle of friends. Mr. Klein was a man of pleasing personality and greatly enjoyed the association of his friends. He was blessed with a rugged constitution and enjoyed good health until a few days before his death. Death was caused by a series of heart attacks.