Edwin J. Klein

1931 - 2012

Edwin Klein

Edwin Joseph Klein, 81, of Belleville, Ill., born June 7, 1931, in Belleville, Ill., died Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, at Rosewood Care Center, Swansea, Ill.

Mr. Klein retired as a firefighter after serving 25 years with the Belleville Fire Department. He later retired as a custodian for Zion Lutheran School. Edwin was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Retired Firefighters Club, and the American Legion. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Ed was preceded in death by his first wife, Geraldine Klein; his parents, Edwin and Helen, nee Albrecht, Klein; and a sister, Margaret Klein.

Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Paula C., nee Martinson, Klein, whom he married June 14, 1986; his sister, Rosemary Riesenberger of Belleville, Ill.; his daughter, Angela (Brian) Lewis of St. Louis, Mo.; his son, Joseph (Vickie) Klein of Overland Park, Kan.; three stepchildren, Cynthia (James) Frank of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., and Brian (Shawna) Reed and Amy (Andrew) Allen, both of Belleville, Ill.; and nine grandchildren, Matthew and Scott Lewis, Megan and Lauren Klein, Jimmy and Jonathan Frank, Henry Reed, and Mason and Kennedy Allen.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran School or to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, Ill. A Belleville firefighter's walkthrough will be held at 6:30 Friday at the funeral home.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, Ill., with the Rev. Gary Byers officiating. Burial will be at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Ill.

GEORGE RENNER & SONS FUNERAL HOME, Belleville, Ill.