Donald F. Klein, 85, of Galesburg, died at 3:18 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Marigold Health Care Center, with family at his side.
He was born February 25, 1936, in Galesburg, the son of Albert F. and Mary G. (Smith) Klein. He married Anita L. Moore on June 15, 1963, in Galesburg. She preceded him in death January 3, 1988. He married Beverlee J. (Delawder) Smith on September 22, 1990, in Galesburg.
He is survived by his wife, Beverlee of over 30 years; daughter, Kris (Joel) Abrahamson of Indianapolis, Indiana; son, Kelly (Jennifer) Klein of Springfield, Illinois; four grandchildren, Lucas (Jenna) Abrahamson of Xenia, Ohio, Hannah (Jake) Plummer of Vilseck, Germany, and Nicholas and Daniel Klein of Springfield, Illinois; step son, Steven (Melanie) Smith of Carmel, Indiana and Papa Don’s granddaughter, Madeline Smith of Boston, Massachusetts; a niece, Laura (Dale) Lael of Springfield, Illinois; great niece, Stephanie (Cody) Harvey of Naperville, Illinois; great-great nephew, Cooper Harvey; and sisters-in-law, Christina (Robert) Buente of Larkspur, Colorado and Judith (James) Johnson of Plano, Texas. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Dorothy Klein Flinn.
Don was a foreman for the City of Galesburg Street Department for many years. He worked for the city his entire working life until retirement. Over the years, Don and Anita were foster parents to over 30 children. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Alpha Masonic Lodge #155 and Moline Consistory. Don enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, bowling, playing cards and board games along with croquet in the back yard. A favorite family vacation place for many, many years was Black River Lodge in the Ozarks. There he loved playing horseshoes, shuffleboard, volleyball, fishing and taking river floats on his tractor inner tube!
Don was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1959 to 1961.
He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for over 60 years, where he often volunteered as the church van driver. Don will be remembered as a very kind and generous Christian man who had a wonderful smile.
Graveside service with Military Honors will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. Rev. Vince Rohn will officiate. Friends and relatives may pay their respects to Don on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel. The family will not be present. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
