The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-10-04
DEATH Of JOHN KLEIN
PIONEER OF MANKAT0
FOR YEARS WAS IN THE.
FURNITURE BUSINESS
Highly Respected Resident of
This City Called to His
Long Home

IoSlucul VI MduhdlO, anu d lldu pioIu
inent in the business life of the city
for many years, died this morning
about five o'clock at st. Joseph's
hospital, after a lingering illness due
to old age and complications. Since
the death of his wife about nine years
ago Mr. Klein made his home with
his son in law and daughter, Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank j. Busch, at 204 North
Fifth street Last December during
spell of faintness he suffered a
severe fall, injuring one of his hips,
and since that time he was cared for
at the hospital. His son, George j..
Klein arrived from San Diego, CAL
ifornia, in time to spend a couple of
days with his father before the end,
and both he and the daughter, Mrs.
Frank ]. Busch, were at his bedside
when death came peacefully and
claimed him.
Native of Germany.
John Klein was born at Nassau,
Germany, on April 6, 1885, and came
to America when eighteen years of
age, landing at Hoboken, N. Y. One
of his brothers was already in Amer
lea and after couple of years the
parents also came to America with
other members of their family Mr..
Klein engaged in work at a furni-
ture, factory in Little Falls, New
York. For generations past the mem
bers of the Klein family had been
furniture dealers and undertakes,
having followed that business in
Germany, and continuing it in this
country. The entire family moved
from New York to- st. Peter, Mimi,
in 1855 and lived there for a couple
OF years. Mr.. Klein came to Mankato
frequently and was married here to
Miss Gertrude Fitterer in 1868. The
Klein brothers were at that time en-
gagged in the furniture business at
st. Peter
Came Here In 1852
In the summer of 1869 Mr.. Klein
and his wife came to Mankato to
live, and continued to make their
home here. Mr.. Klein engaged in
the furniture business at 413-15 South
Front street, where the Johnson
Boman company is now located, and
the business was conducted there
under his name until about three years
ago. When Mr. Klein retired from
active business in 1907, his son, George
j. Klein operated the store, until it
was sold to the Johnson Boman com
pany. Mr. George Klein and family
then moving to San Diago, California,
for the healthful benefit to be derived
in that milder climate After his
wife died in 1909 Mr. Klein made his
home with his daughter, Mrs Frank
j. Busch until the time of his illness
last December.
Seven children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Klein, two of whom died in in
fancy, and the oldest daughter Mrs.
Leo S. Lamm, who died in 1897.
The Surviving Relatives.
Surviving relatives are the son,
George j. Klein of San Diago, Cal,
and daughters, Sister M. ]. Baptiste
OF the Order of Notre Dame, De-
troit, Mich; Sister Gertrude of the
Order of Notre Dame, Milwaukee: and
Mrs. Frank Busch of this city; sisters.
Mrs. Henry Luedke, Sr, of st. Peter.
who is now in the city; and Mrs.
Margaret Stelzer of Great Falls.
Mont. Sergeant Gregory X. Lamm. a
grandson of the deceased, who was
orphaned when child, and was
brought up by Mr.. Klein and his wife,
is now located at Park Field, Milling
ton, Tenn, near Memphis, and has
been home twice to see his grand
father since entering the service. He
Will arrive home in time for the
funeral.
Funeral services will be held next
Monday morning at nine O'clock in
st. Peter and Pauls Catholic church.
Mr.. Klein was for years director
and vice-president of the First Ma
uonal bank, and director of the old
Mankato Board of Trade, and other
public institutions. He was a member
OF board of county commissioners
when the construction of the Blue
Earth county court house was started.
He lived an energetic, busy and useful
life, not only in the civic and com
mercial growth of Mankato, but also
In the development of religious and
charitable institutions. He was al
ways leading and influential mem
Ger OF the Catholic church, and was
prime mover in the founding of ST.
Joseph's hospital, serving as its
superintendent. He was also one OF
the main instigaters and first SUPER
intendent of Calvary cemetery. Mr.
Klein was splendid gentleman and
high grade citizen. He assisted in
every way possible in The building
up of Mankato
According to an often expressed
wish OF Mr.. Klein, friends are kindly
requested not to send flowers.