Earl Klein

Chilton WI

Earl Klein, age 79, of Chilton, passed away peacefully on May 20th, 2016. He was born September 27, 1936 to Catherine (Gerlach) & Peter Klein. He graduated from Random Lake High School in 1954. He served in the Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956 and took part in three live atomic bomb tests at Yucca Flats, Nevada. Earl married the love of his life, Irene Ann Studeman on September 8, 1956 at St. John the Baptist, Plymouth. He farmed near the St. Anna area for 25 years, and worked at Vinyl Plastics, Vollrath, Tecumseh Products & Chilton Plating.

Earl was known for his love of football, his woodworking, his sense of humor, and his gift of gab, all of which he passed down to his family. He also enjoyed reading, going to the casinos, and traveling; especially to Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. He was also well-known for his love of dancing. His final wish before he passed was to be around in November to vote against Donald Trump.

He is survived by his wife, Irene; his five children, Carolyn Klein and partner Walter (Appleton), Earl (Judy) Klein, St. Cloud, Irene Evans, Shiprock, New Mexico, Mary Schisel, Kiel, and Mike Klein, Sheboygan Falls; 11 grandchildren, Alex McNeely, Tony, Steve and Jennifer Klein, Jessy Carlson, Lee Evans, Danny, Connie, Michael and Christina Schisel, and Stephanie Klein; and 7 great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Blake, Dylan, Isabelle, Autumn, Ethan, and Emma. Earl is also survived by 4 sisters and 2 brothers; Eunice Baker, Marie Michaels, Pauline Huibregtse, Janice Merkel, Dennis Klein, and Keith Klein.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Catherine Klein and a brother, Peter Klein.

Funeral Services will be at 11:30am on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (54 E. Main Street) in Chilton with the Rev. Ryan Krueger officiating. Friends may call at Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main Street) in Chilton from 9:30am to 11:00am on Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, Earl would appreciate a donation to Good Shepherd Parish in Chilton, WI.

Earl’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Fr. Bob Kollath, Fr. Ryan Krueger, Deacon Dennis Bennin, the entire staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital, and Calumet County Home Health Care and Hospice for the care and compassion shown to him and his family.




You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him

Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live in yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow, because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he’s gone or you

Can cherish his memory and let it life on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he’d want: SMILE, OPEN YOUR EYES, LOVE

AND GO ON!