Louie “Ed” Klein

Louie "Ed" Klein, 94, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away December 23, 2008.

Ed was born June 13, 1914 to Louie and Evelyn Klein and grew up in the Zeandale/St. George/Manhattan, Kansas area. He moved to Topeka, Kansas in his late teens and his early career there led to the position of supervisor of meat departments of the Falley Grocery chain, a partnership in a meat market and a restaurant/bar in Kemmerer, Wyoming, after which he returned to Topeka as a sales representative for Morrell Meatpacking Co. He then sold display advertising for Stauffer Publications, The Topeka Daily Capital and Topeka State Journal. After selling national advertising for Kansas Press Association, Ed decided to tackle advertising specialty sales and opened his own company, Goodwill Advertising (later the E. Klein Co.).

After moving to Shawnee, Kansas, Ed continued his successful career in advertising specialty sales for Appreciated Advertising in Kansas City, Kansas, where he was one of the top salesmen year after year. Then, when most people his age were retired, Ed went back to his favorite occupation: cutting meat and managing meat markets in several small grocery stores in the metro area.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Peter and Eugene, his sisters Crystal Laohere and Grace Klein.

Ed is survived by his wife of 32 years, Marilyn (Moylan) Klein, Shawnee, Kansas; by his former wife Theresa Klein, Topeka, Kansas; his son Ken Klein, Lake St. Louis, Missouri; grandson Mark (Lesley) Klein, Dallas, Texas; granddaughter Paula Whitney (George) Donovan, Orlando, Florida; great-grandchildren Josh & Abby Klein, Conor & Matthew Donovan; sisters-in-law Mary (Lee) Arnold, Houston, Texas; Judith Welch, Leavenworth, Washington., and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was an avid quail and pheasant hunter throughout his life, took pride in a variety of hunting dogs he owned, and passed his passion and love of the sport on to his family. He cared and loved deeply, had a sixth sense for understanding others, the grand ability to laugh and instill laughter, good will and good in others, and will be so remembered by family, friends and all who knew him.

Ed beat throat cancer in 1987 (learning to speak after losing his voice box); battled several heart episodes including a major heart attack in 2006; but bladder cancer and kidney failure proved to be too much for this very strong, very determined, very stubborn man. The Irish poet, Dylan Thomas, wrote "Do not go gently into that dark night - rage, rage against the dying of the light." The light went out at 10:40 a.m. on December 23, 2008.

Visitation and Graveside Service

Visitation will be from 10-11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 27th at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, with a Rosary recited at 10 a.m. Graveside services will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys, Kansas