John was raised in Freeburg, IL, graduated from Belleville Cathedral, and atteded SIU Carbondale, St. Henry Prep Seminary, Belleville, IL, and St. Meinrad Major Seminary in Indiana. He was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1963. Prior to ordination, he spent five summers at St. Philip Parish in East St. Louis as their Recreation Director. His first priestly assignment was as Assistant Pastor at St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville, IL. In 1965, John was assigned to St. Mary Parish in Belleville, IL. While there, he organized many parish athletic teams, and was instrumental in volleyball being played in Belleville parishes. In 1971, John was named the Belleville Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization Director, and worked out of offices in Belleville, Fairmont City, and Breese.
John was very proud of the many “old-timer” men’s and women’s softball and volleyball teams and leagues that he organized. In 1972, he took a “leave of absence” and went to Baltimore, MD to work for their CYO. One year later, John went to Rochester, NY where he was the CYO Acting Executive Director. While in Rochester, John was laicized from the priesthood. The next year, 1974, John started a 20 year career as Executive Director of the Mercy County CYO based in Trenton, NJ. Back in Illinois in 1999, John was named Site Director at Daystar Community Program in Cairo, IL, an agency of the Diocese of Belleville, and retired from there in 2006.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Judge Edmund and Cecilia, nee Hoffman, Klein; and two brothers-in-law, Joseph Dickerson and Mel Baldus.
Surviving is his wife of 39 years, Carol, nee Jakob, Klein, whom he married in 1976;
two sons, John (Amanda) Klein of Ballwin, MO,
and James (Laura) Klein of Fenton, MO;
two grandchildren, Addison and Beckett Klein;
three sisters, Rose Baldus of Fairview Heights, IL,
Catherine Dickerson of Belleville, IL,
and Mary (William) Leingang of Columbia, IL;
two brothers, Edmund (Rose) Klein of Sun Lakes, AZ,
and Robert (Sandy) Klein of Fairview Heights, IL;
and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee and Fr. Christopher Anyanwu concelebrating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Freeburg, IL.
Condolences Left For John Klein
John blessed our diocese in so many ways. I was part of the “old timer” softball & volleyball teams and coahced many of the youth teams he organized. He gave us many great memories.
Fr. Bill Rowe, Olney, IL, 62450
John was a good and cheerful man – always supporting, always encouraging. He will be missed. May the angels lead him into paradise.
Ed Barbier, Fairview Heights, Illinois, 62208
Carol. – sorry to hear about John’s passing. Barbara and I are praying for you and your family. May John be resting in the peace of the Lord Jesus.
Marvin Blaes, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72211
So sorry for your loss. Father Klein as I knew him as a child was a kind priest to us students at st stephens. He has always been remembered fondly by the Miles family.
teresa miles harris, smithfield, nc, 27577
I played volleyball at St. Mary’s in the last half of the 60’s. Then in 1970 when my husband Bob and I got married, Fr. Klein asked Msgr. Orlet if he could marry us. Msgr. Orlet gave him permission — so we are blessed that John Klein married us. Forty Five years this year.
Eileen Hagan, Belleville, IL, 62223
I was a classmate of John’s at St Meinrad. Happy memories. Prayers and joyful thoughts to his family at this time. MB
Michael Byrne, Louisville, KY, 40205
Sorry for your loss. Prayers for John and his family; and memorial to St. Mary’s. John was my cousin (my father Leo Klein was his father’s brother). May John rest in peace.
Jane (Klein) Noble, Flower Mound, TX, 75022
I was saddwnwd to learn of John’s death having grown up with from 3rd grade through high school. May he and his family find comfort in God’s Mercy.
Jim Gill, Jacksonville, FL, 32257
Dear Carol,
We are so sorry for your loss. We are so glad that we were able to see John at the 50th reunion of our class. We will keep your and your family in our prayers.
John and Ginny Meeks, Bel Air, Maryland, 21014
I will always remember John as a faithful member of Trenton Kiwanis. The plan his family had for caring for his mother and father was an inspiration to me in my career as a financial advisor. A truely selfless Christian.
Rest in peace John
Chris Pratico, Jupiter, Florida, 33458
Dear Carol, John, and Jimmy, So sorry to hear of John’s death. I read about it in the CYO Bulletin. I have fond memories of nice times when our children were young. Prayers and peace to all.
Peggy McDermott, Pennington, NJ, 08534