Martin Klein

Compassionate, loving, honorable, hardworking – these are just a few of the many words that describe Martin F. Klein. A man who loved golf, playing cards, hunting, traveling and most of all, spending time with his family, Martin will be remembered as a man who knew that true joy and happiness came, not from possessions, but from being surrounded by the ones you loved.

With the end of the Great War, the year 1919 marked a time of change in American history, as young servicemen returned home from Europe to start their families amidst a booming post-war economy. Edward Klein, an inventor and woodworker of Conklin, Michigan, and his wife, Valeria, were among the many expecting parents, and on July 29, 1919, they were blessed with the birth of their son, Martin Frederick Klein. Martin was born at home on their family farm; he was the second oldest of nine children (though his oldest sibling died at a young age). While his father worked in his trade, his mother and siblings kept the farm running. In fact, Martin left the St. Joseph of Wright schools after the 8th grade to work full-time on the farm. One of his many responsibilities was to drive a truck load of apples to Detroit to be sold.

After turning 18, Martin got an itch to go out west, and hitchhiked to Wyoming, where he worked on a cattle ranch, driving the Thrasher behind a team of horses. He stayed here for 2 summers before returning home to Michigan and going to work for McInnerny Spring and Wire. It was here that Martin met Rosalind Stoepker and they began dating. The two fell in love and were married on December 31, 1941. Martin and Rosalind weren’t newlyweds for long though because they both felt compelled to serve their country, and enlisted in the U.S. Army. While Rosalind served stateside as a radio announcer, Martin was shipped overseas to North Africa and Italy, where he was a gunner on a half track. While fighting in the Battle of Sicily, Martin ran out of bullets and his reloaders were under the truck, which led to him being wounded. With shrapnel in his back and a collapsed lung, Martin was loaded on the ambulance, only to have an intense fire fight break out and everyone took cover, leaving him stranded on the idling ambulance. He was later awarded the Purple Heart for his bravery. While recuperating at the hospital, a Colonel helped fill out his disability papers and Martin was sent home to recover. He didn’t go straight home however; he started to cough blood and was sent to another VA hospital. Eventually, he hitchhiked home, where he found his wife Rosalind, who was discharged so she could care for him.

The couple finally settled into married life together on the northwest side of Grand Rapids. It was here they filled their hearts and home with the joy of 7 children: Dennis, Steven, Robert, Joel, Diane, Daniel and Cynthia. To support his growing family, Martin began driving a truck for the furniture industry, delivering very high quality furniture all along the east coast, including New York City. He took great pride in his work and hand delivered each piece to their proper destination. When his kids were old enough, Martin took them with him on his deliveries to New York, showing them the sights of the city. Like his furniture, Martin wasn’t a typical truck driver – he didn’t stop at the grungy truck stops but rather brought a nice set of clothes with him to stop at a very nice restaurant, where he could feast on his favorite meal, pressed duck. In 1955, Martin left trucking to start “Klein Builders – General Contracting” with his brother. While he took care of the sales part of the business, his brother was the actual builder. To rub elbows with the clients, Martin often took them golfing, and became quite passionate about the sport. He was only too proud to tell people about his two holes-in-one. After 12 years, Martin and his brother closed the business and he went back to delivering furniture at Blodgett Trucking “to get a pension.”

In 1963, Martin and Rosalind’s marriage ended after 22 years. Sadly, one of their longtime friends, Don Averill, also died, leaving his wife Anne alone. Then, as fate would have it, Martin’s son, Steve, married Anne’s daughter, Cheryl, and their longtime friendship turned into family. Eventually, Martin and Anne began taking trips together to see their grandson, and their friendship blossomed into romance. A year and a half later, Martin and Anne were married at St. John’s United Church of Christ on September 26, 1969. Both loved their families dearly, and together Martin and Anne enjoyed 39 great years of marriage. They loved to socialize with their family and friends, going golfing and playing in a bridge club. At home, Martin liked to cook any kind of meat in a big pan of mushrooms, onions and butter, and topped the meal off with sweet corn. For dessert, it was cookies, particularly ginger snaps. Perhaps while working away in the kitchen, he listened to some of his favorite Big Band music, like Glen Miller.

Even though Martin worked hard to support his family, he also found time to have fun. He was an avid golfer and longtime member of North Kent Golf Course. In fact, he and Anne worked at the golf course after retiring – he cut the grass and she worked in the pro shop. For many years, Martin also enjoyed deer hunting, taking many trips to Camp Domino. He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post #102, and never missed having a cold beer at the Post with his friends every day at 2 p.m. He was also a regular at Jodi’s Restaurant in Rockford, so much so he never had to place an order because they already knew what he wanted. Being on the road was in Martin’s blood, even after driving a truck for a living for so many years. He often volunteered to drive his kids and grandkids on trips, like when he took his daughter, Cynthia, and her kids to the World’s Fair for 2 weeks. Once retired, Martin and Anne also hit the road every winter for several years with their 5th wheel, headed to sunny Clermont, Florida with side trips to Arizona.

In the mid 1990s, Anne began showing signs of Dementia, and eventually went to live at the Grand Rapids Home for Vets. Martin faithfully visited her every day, and tenderly cared for her for 10 of her last 14 years. After Anne passed away in 2008, Martin continued to live on his own, though he wasn’t ever really alone; he had a four-legged feline named “Cat” to keep him company. They shared everything, including Martin’s Ensure drinks, and while Martin lost weight, Cat put it on. In the fall of 2010, Martin moved to Villa Maria Retirement Community near Grand Rapids, where he passed away on Friday, June 17, 2011, surrounded by his beloved family.

Martin was preceded in death by his wife, Anne; parents, Edward (Valeria) Klein; step-daughter, Susan Averill; brother, Raymond Klein; and sister, Margaret Nichols. He is survived by his children: Dennis (Nancy) Klein, Steven (Cheryl) Klein, Robert (Pamela) Klein, Joel Klein, Diane (Butch) Thorton, Daniel (Julie) Klein, and Cynthia Klein; step-son, Michael (Barbara); 18 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers, Eugene (Rosemary), Howard, Peter, and Edward (Sandy) Klein; sister, Martha Kanoza; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 20, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids. Friends may visit with his family on Sunday, June 19, from 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to Spectrum Health Hospice or Alzheimer's Association. Please visit Martin’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a memory, upload a photo and sign the online guest book prior to arriving at the funeral home.