Paul Joseph Klein, 2-10-1924 to 4-5-2010

(Obituary written by my mom and her brothers)

Deacon Paul Joseph Klein passed to the next life Monday morning, April 5, 2010, while at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on February 10, 1924, son of the late, Otto and Helen (Schloesser) Klein. His life was shaped and filled by his family and his faith.

The essential lesson we learned from our father was his example of devoted love for our mother. Their relationship has enriched all of us. It taught us the importance of real love. Dad practiced one of his favorite Madonna House prayers — Love, Love, Love never count the cost. Dad worked as a professional engineer at Kimberly Clark Corporation for 37 years, then served as a deacon in the Catholic Church for 34 years with the daily support of his wife Laura. They shared their faith with the Saint Thomas More community for the past 29 years. We have been blessed with a father who taught us love and compassion every day and gave us the tools and self-confidence to follow our own paths as we live our lives. His legacy to all who knew him was his engineer's perspective and his commitment to service in his community. His advice to us would be to record your mileage and go to church.

Paul is survived by his wife, V. Laura; eight children: Lawrence, Mark (Ellen Davis), Thomas (Erin Moonlight-Klein), Charles (Susan Gigot-Klein), James (Michelle), Mary (David) Fochs, Andrew (Stephanie) and Gerard (Michelle), 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is further survived by a brother, John (Mary); a brother-in-law, Ray (Lois) Outcelt.

Paul was preceded in death by two children: Paula and Peter, a grandson, Levi and a sister, Carlyne Klein.
There is no way that we can remember and personally thank everyone who has been a support to us. We would like to acknowledge and thank the nurses and doctors at St. Elizabeth's, especially Dr. Douglas Grant and his nurse Lynn who provided loving care for our family over the past 34 years, and hospital nurse Katie Van Lannen and the staff at Saint Elizabeth's who provided such thoughtful care for our father in his final days and the wonderful support of Affinity Hospice as he completed the circle of his life in the home he built, surrounded by the family he created.

We want to thank the diocese of Green Bay and deaconate community for their many years of great friendship and support to our parents. They have been blessed with many friends over the years. We would like to acknowledge Rosemary Cummings for her long friendship and fellow Deacon and close friends Don Wetzel and his wife Joan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2010, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at Valley Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7 p.m., visitation will continue on Thursday from 9 a.m. until the hour of Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Thomas More Scholorship Fund in the Deacon's name.

VALLEY
FUNERAL HOME
2211 N. Richmond Street
Appleton, WI 54911
920-733-5435
www.valleyfh.com

"Serving as
would be Served"