Brian Laird Klaus

Brian Laird Klaus, aged 65, passed away on August 28, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas at home peacefully with family at his side. Having survived severe chronic illness since childhood, crippling vocational pain and a couple of nasty strokes, he succumbed to an aggressive myeloma in his spinal column. His loss is felt as a great void to many.

A beloved husband, father, brother and true friend to many, Brian's life was marked by his compassionate spirit, multi-faceted mind, accomplished talents and deep fast wit. He was fiercely defensive of the underdog and would give any worthy being the shirt off of his back, his last dollar and his last crumb of bread. Brian was a humble renaissance Southern gentleman of the highest caliber.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Brian was a proud alumnus of John Jay High School and held many life-long friendships from days there. Brian was also a skilled carpenter and construction tradesman, an amateur scientist, an accomplished artist, an irreplaceable vocational comedian and a quiet philosopher.

He completed his formal education at San Antonio College School of Nursing where he earned his Associates Degree with Honors. His dedication to caring about others was evidenced through his diverse and full career as a Registered Nurse. Brian thrived in health care and excelled as a RN. He specialized in some of the most challenging fields, such as ER triage, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Long-term Rehabilitation and finally end-of-life Hospice Care. Brian Klaus was well known and respected in the medical communities everywhere he worked and particularly in San Antonio, where he retired.

While personally bringing comfort and care to countless individuals, he gave more than just his time, sweat and tears. When a deranged patient in the emergency room brought out a loaded gun, Brian ran towards the crisis to help a Nurse's Aide struggling with the large man. It wasn't his patient nor his job for that matter but he got hold of the man's arm and grabbed the wrist of the hand wielding the gun while the young aide fought to control the other arm. Before security could respond to help Brian and the petite female aide, the patient tried to shoot Brian with a 9mm handgun only missing his face by a couple of inches. The incident left him with permanent hearing loss in one ear and PTSD. Brian was not afraid to stand up for anyone in real need and not to anyone including any doctors or superiors that he deemed in error. Needless to say, Brian worked at quite a few different hospitals and institutions over his powerful career.

Beyond his professional life, Brian was a man of many eclectic interests and diverse talents. He was a passionate thespian in his youth which attached itself to him in the form of a uniquely introspective, youthful and creatively honest personality. He also loved the over-the-top in everything fun. He owned and passed on world-class outrageous jacket, ugly tie and silly hat collections over his lifetime. He was a passionate oddity shopper finding and displaying each item of greater outrageousness with pride. He could wear a boah, Christmas sweater with a Dr. Seuss hat and googly eye glasses better than Steven Tyler ever could. His inventive mind helped him solve many problems and led him to create numerous useful gadgets sure, but his inner circle will always remember the limitless creative imagination he brought with him to everything. He was a Grand Master at turning otherwise simple boring activities into silly fun science-y memorable activities. The same imaginative adventurous, analytical and deeply compassionate spirit found him exploring the great outdoors, the greatest of relationships and the greatest of his own inner workings throughout his entire life and to the end.

Brian is survived by his wife, Jane Henry; daughter, Jennifer Anderson; stepchildren, James Hickman, Linde Jane Hickman, Tavia Lessani and Cameron Lessani, and Dylan McClughan and his husband Joseph; sister, Mary T. (Lisa) Hooter; and brother, Daniel C. Klaus and his wife Venera Klaus. He also leaves behind many other cherished family and extended family members. His sudden passing was preceded by his father, Kendall C. Klaus; his beloved mother, Beverly Gordon Klaus; and brother, Kendall (Kelly) Gordon Klaus, among countless Angels who awaited him in Paradise.

A service to celebrate Brian's life will be held at Mac Arthur Lutheran Church, located at 2903 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio, TX 78217, on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 2:00 pm. The Mac Arthur Lutheran Church will also assist with the service and other arrangements.

Brian's legacy of kindness, laughter, and curiosity will be deeply missed by all who knew him yet his powerful wave of good energy will persevere.