Klein, Don Sr. 1914-2002

KLEIN, FORSYTH, LAREW

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/2/2015 at 14:35:51

Born: October 24, 1914 Pella, Iowa
Died: March 9, 2002 Rock Valley, Iowa

Don Klein Sr. was born Oct. 24, 1914 in Pella, IA, son of Tunis and Jessie Mae (Forsyth) Klein. After graduating from High School Don attended College for 3 years in pre-law, and he completed his law degree after 3 years at Drake University Law School. He passed the bar examinations and was admitted into the Iowa Bar in 1939. Don returned home to Pella to practice law with his father. Don enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard a few days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He attended Officers Acadamey at Groton, Conn., after which he served as an assistant Law Officer for the 11th Naval District until he was assigned sea duty iin the South Pacific. Don married Catheryn Larew on Nov. 29, 1942 at the Klein home in Pella after a 7-year courtship. After approximately 4 years of service, Don returned home to Pella to practice law with his father for a short time. Don and Catheryn moved to Rock Valley in the latter part of 1946 where Don began working at Valley State Bank while practicing law on the side. After 20 years of service to Valley State Bank, Don left to begin practicing law full time in 1966. Don's son Robert entered the law firm and Don Sr. began to reduce his workload so he and Catheryn could follow their dreams of traveling the U. S. on a riverboat. Don had a 60 foot stern wheel houseboat constructed, by which he and Catheryn traveled a number of inland waterways from Pittsburgh, PA. to Guntersville, AL.

Over the course of his life, Don had been a Sunday school teacher and had served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, served as a chairman on the church board, served on the Rock Valley City Council and the Rock Valley Community School Board.

Don was born into a Christian home where there never arose a question about the reality of Christ and the authenticity of the Bible. For Don and his family, the Christian life was the only way to live.

Don died Sat. March 9, 2002 at the Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley. He was 87 years, 4 months, 15 days of age.

Surviving relatives include Don's wife, Catheryn of Rock Valley; daughter and husband, Donna and Bill Kolbe of Lake View, IA; son and wife, Don R. Jr. and Charry Klein, daughter and husband Carol and Dan Reeves all of Rock Valley; one sister; Bonnie Smith of Rock Valley; 9 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Don Sr. was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Katie Ruth Kolbe; grandson, Joshua Cabe Kolbe.

The family of Don Klein Sr. wishes that in lieu of flowers, please direct your memorials to Gospel For Asia, which is a Christian organization that strives to bring the word of the Lord to the multitudes of people in Asia.

Source: Obituary from Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley.