from Remsen Bell-Enterprise (April 25, 2002)

Dennis M. Klein, 59, of San Francisco, CA, and formerly of Remsen, died Tuesday, April 16, 2002, at Veterans Hospital in San Francisco. He died after a lengthy illness with cancer.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, with Rev. Thomas J. Hart officiating. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery. Graveside military rites were conducted by VFW Post 3328 and American Legion Post 220. The Fisch Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Klein was born June 4, 1942, in LeMars, the son of Elmer and Melinda (Plathe) Klein. He was raised in the Remsen area and received his education at St. Mary's Catholic School in Remsen.

He served in the US Navy from 1964 to 1970, stationed in San Diego, CA, and transferred to the USS Tripoli during the Vietnam War.

After his discharge he moved to San Francisco, where he spent most of his remaining life and worked as a professional interior painter in the San Francisco area.

He married Debbie Bartholomew on December 28, 1975, at San Francisco, where they made their home.

Surviving are his wife, Debbie of San Francisco; two daughters, Sheri Klein and Theresa Klein, and a son, Dennis Jr., all of the San Francisco area; five brothers, Elmer and Jan, Malcolm and Marlene, Alana and Lorelei, and Charles, all of Remsen; nine sisters, Mavis Kunkel, Carol and Donald Ruba, Susan and Al Vaske, Marilyn Treinen, and Marlys Ohlendorf, all of Remsen; Nancy and Rick Loehr of Enid OK, Elaine and Fred Jungers of Sheldon IA, Alice Klein of Stafford TX, and Norma Klein of Stafford TX; a sister-in-law, Gerianne and George Olson of Sioux City IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Thomas; maternal grandparents, Ben and Johanna (Mousel) Plathe; paternal grandparents, Mike and Anna (Gehrens) Klein; and two brothers-in-law, Donald Kunkel and Fred Treinen.