Frederick Klein

Frederick Klein, a longtime resident of Eastpointe, passed away on November 16, 2022, at the age of 90. A son of Peter and Katerina (Kister) Klein, he was born on April 16, 1932 in Novi Vrbas, Yugoslavia. He grew up in the nearby town of Kucura, a multi-ethnic farming village where his father owned a creamery, purchasing milk from local farmers and producing butter and cheese. Displaced by the war, the family fled in 1944, arriving in West Germany in 1947 and then emigrating to Detroit in 1949.
Fred married Olga Schienke on April 14, 1953 at the Conners Avenue German Baptist Church in Detroit. He remained an active member as the church moved first to East Detroit as Ridgemont Baptist Church and later to Sterling Heights as Hope Community Baptist Church. He served as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent, and taught Adult Sunday School.
Following marriage, he was drafted to serve in the US Army in West Germany, where he became an American citizen in 1954. Returning to the US in 1955, he moved to East Detroit, now Eastpointe, in 1956.
Preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, five sisters, and an infant daughter (Ruth Ellen) and his wife of almost 67 years. Survived by his children Ralph (Pia), Esther (Howard) Ludwig, and Mark (Ruth). Beloved grandfather of Frederick (Cheryll), Stephen, Christina (Kyle) Botkin, Rebecca (Jonathan) Polsdorfer, Peter (Helen) Ludwig, Matthew (Katherine), and Rachel. Great-grandfather of Landon Klein; Elisabeth, Theodore, Joseph, Georgiana, and Adelaide Botkin; Samuel and Judah Polsdorfer; Kevin Ludwig and Kaelyn Klein.
A funeral service will be held at A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Warren followed by interment at Cadillac Memorial Cemetery in Clinton Township. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be sent to: Slavic Gospel Association, 6151 Commonwealth Drive,
Loves Park, Illinois 61111, for their relief work in Ukraine. Sga.org/ukrainecare