Rev. John G. Klein

Father John Klein served the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Chicago for the past 24 years as a parish priest and pastor as well as an educator and administrator at the Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminaries.

He died on Monday, July 12, 1999, at age 49 from complications related to cancer.

Father Klein devoted his priesthood to two causes: Hispanic ministry and the formation of young men interested in the priesthood through the seminary system. While a student at Quigley North High School and Niles College Preparatory Seminary, Father Klein spent three summers in Mexico as a missionary volunteer with the Conference of Inter American Projects. While a student at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, he taught English to the Hispanic community from 1971 to 1974. He followed this with studies at the Mexican American Cultural Center and later studied in Spain, Peru, and Mexico. He then served as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Waukegan, Illinois, and later as Associate Pastor at St. Roman Parish in Chicago for 17 years. Most recently, he was Pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia, Chicago's largest Mexican parish, since 1997.

His seminary career began at Chicago's Quigley South High School in 1980. He served as a Spanish teacher for 3 years, was Dean of Admissions and Recruitment from 1983-85, and Rector/Principal from 1985 through the school's closing in 1990. At that time, Cardinal Bernardin chose him to be the first President of Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and also appointed him President of the Institute of Vocational Awareness. He served in these roles from 1990 to 1997. He subsequently served as a member of the Board of Directors of Quigley and was awarded the Archbishop James E. Quigley Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999.

In addition to his involvement in the Chicago seminary, Fr. Klein was a recognized leader in promoting vocational formation on the national level, having served as President of the National Association of High School Seminaries, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Seminary Department of the National Catholic Education Association, a member of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocational Directors, and a member of the ad hoc Steering Committee for the Bishop's National Strategy on Vocations.

Fr. Klein is survived by his parents, Gilbert and Loretta Klein; sister Dorann (Jerome) Oswald; and brothers Donald, Richard (Margaret), and James (Cecilia). He also had four nephews and a niece: Matthew, Douglas, Elizabeth, and Daniel.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 1999, at St. Tarcissus Church, 6020 West Ardmore Avenue, Chicago, and from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at St. Agnes of Bohemia Church, 2651 South Central Park Avenue, Chicago. A memorial service will be conducted each evening at 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Friday, July 16, at 10 a.m., at St. Agnes of Bohemia Church. Arrangements were entrusted to Simkins Funeral Home, Morton Grove, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, 103 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611, (312) 787-9343; or to St. Agnes of Bohemia Church, 2651 South Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623, (773) 522-0142. Please designate that the donation is for the special scholarship funds that will be established in memory of Fr. Klein.