Obituary of James Stanley Klein

James Stanley Klein died on Sunday, May 10, 2015 at the age of 91 following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Lillian (Healy) Klein; his children James Klein, Paul Klein, and Allison (Klein) Davidson; his daughter-in-law Danelle Klein; his sons-in-law Clint Davidson and David Fisher; his grandchildren and their spouses Peter Klein (Darcy Douglas), Christianne Klein-Hechler (Chris Hechler), Max Fisher, and Anna Mabarak; his great-grandchildren Ryan and Marley Hechler; brother-in-law Rev. Paul Pfadenhauer and his life partner William Sibberns; sister-in-law Sue McCloskey, and nieces and nephews Sue, Karen, Edward, and Timothy. Born in New York City on June 24, 1923, James was the only child of Stanley and Edna (Weinheimer) Klein. In 1941 he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in New York City. After high school, he attended Queens College, City University of New York where he studied political science. James Klein entered the U.S. Army on February 10, 1943, and arrived in Europe on September 7, 1944. He was a rifleman in the 104th Infantry Division also known as the Timberwolves. The 104th was involved in some of the most significant post D-Day engagements of the war. These included the Rhineland Campaign which kicked off with an airborne attack code named "Market Garden" that was detailed in Cornelius Ryan's historical account "A Bridge Too Far." They participated in repelling the last German offensive of the war, one that began with an advance through the Ardennes forest and is popularly known as "the Battle of the Bulge." Finally, the Timberwolves met elements of the Russian army in late April of 1945 near the Elbe river in Germany. VE day (Victory in Europe) followed on May 7th. PFC Klein earned the Expert Infantry Combat Badge, the European / African / Middle Eastern Service Medal, the American Theatre Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He returned to the U.S. on July 3rd, 1945. He married Lillian Marie Healy on June 15, 1946, and they raised a family on Long Island before relocating to Houston in 1974. He retired in 1985 after a long career with Aramco, and enjoyed enduring friendships with many of his co-workers. Jim had a beautiful singing voice, and performed with choral groups and in theater productions. In a foreshadowing of things to come, he performed and sung the role of Captain Corcoran in Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, with his future wife Lillian Healy performing the role of Buttercup. He loved the game of golf, which he pursued long after a less persistent person would have given up. He came out of retirement in his eighties to work part-time as a golf course marshall at Raveneaux Country Club. He was an animal lover and supporter of the Houston SPCA. He adored his cat companion Babette, whom he doted on for 20 wonderful years. Jim was a gentleman, a reader, a story teller, an historian, a world traveler, and was loved by all who met him. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at The Heights of North Houston who cared for our father in his last months. He loved you all. A graveside funeral service with full military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2015 at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive in Houston, Texas.