PORT HURON -- After a lengthy illness of three years, the Rev. Theodore J. Klein passed away on Friday, February 6, 2004 at Marwood Manor Nursing Home.
The Rev. Klein was born on August 17, 1927 in Springfield, Illinois to the Rev. George R. and Pauline Klein.
He served a one-year vicarage at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Missouri (1951-52). He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in June 1953 and was ordained at Potter, Nebraska, on August 2, 1953. He faithfully served the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod for over 50 years, serving at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Potter, Nebraska, from 1953-56; Trinity Lutheran Church in Nokomis, Illinois, 1956-63; Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Huron, 1963-1988; and from 1988 to 2000, Historic Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Unity Lutheran Church, all in Detroit.
During his pastorate at Trinity in Port Huron, he served as Counselor for the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod from 1968 to 1976. He organized and served Hope Lutheran Church in Goodells from 1965 to 1981. He also served on the Synod's Commission of Mental Retardation. He served as a member of St Clair County Mental Health Board (Old PA54 Board) from October 1968 through December 1974. He was a member of the ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) Board from 1991 to 2001, serving in various leadership positions, including President of the Board.
The Rev. Klein married Georgia A. Evans in Kansas City, Missouri on June 6, 1953. They were blessed with four children, John (Janice) Klein of Palatine, Illinois, Kathleen (Stephen) Lang of Grosse Pointe Park, the Rev. Lisa (the Rev. Stephen) Goodwin of Anchor, Illinois, and Mark E. Klein of Port Huron; four grandsons, Alex and Chris Lang and Jacob and Justin Klein. He is also survived by two sisters and one brother, Grace (the Rev. Otto) Krupski of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Miriam Loock of Austin, Minnesota, and Dr. Ralph (Marilyn) Klein of Chicago, Illinois.
Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. today and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2004 in Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert H. Mann and the Rev. Ted Voll will officiate.
Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his two sons, John and Mark, two sons-in-law, Stephen Lang and Stephen Goodwin, and four grandsons, Alexander and Christopher Lang and Jacob and Justin Klein.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Trinity Lutheran Church or the St. Clair County ARC.
To send condolences and messages of sympathy, visit
pollockrandallfuneralhome.com.

Originally published Sunday, February 8, 2004