Richard Joseph “Dick” Klein passed away on May 18, 2025, at Aspirus Riverview Hospital.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nekoosa. Reverend John Swing will officiate. He will be buried next to his beloved wife, Shirley, in Riverside Cemetery, Nekoosa. Visitation will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service.
Dick was born on September 14, 1936, in Wisconsin Rapids to Leo Joseph Klein and Irene Eleanore Rucinski. The family moved to Nekoosa when Dick was a child so his father could be near his job at the Nekoosa Mill. Dick graduated from Alexander High School, class of 1955.
Dick married Shirley M. Bauer on June 28, 1956, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Nekoosa, a marriage that was blessed with 59 years.
After graduating from high school, Dick went to work for Nekoosa Papers and Georgia Pacific as a delivery truck driver for 38 years, retiring from Georgia Pacific on October 1, 1993. During the early years of his marriage, he worked for his father-in-law, Lawrence Bauer, in his construction business, learning skills that would be useful for the rest of his life. Dick enjoyed carpentry and working in his yard.
Dick proudly served his country in the United States Army from August 26, 1959 to August 25, 1961 at Fort Riley, Kansas.
He is survived by his sisters-in-law Donna Klein, Nekoosa, Ruth Bauer, Grand Marsh, Gloria Krekowski, Wisconsin Rapids, Janice (Roger) Schauer and Mary Ann (David) Dabney, both of Sarasota Florida.
He is preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his parents, his brother Donald L. Klein, his sister Mary Ellen Shear, his parents-in-law Lawrence A. and Margaret Bauer, his sisters-in-law Faye (Marvin) Zurfluh, Joyce (Bill) Trotter, his brothers-in-law Lawrence R. (Arlene Toots) Bauer, Marvin (Yvonne) Bauer, Orville Bauer and Howard Krekowski.
Dick requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Opportunity Development Center (ODC) in Wisconsin Rapids. To send flowers to the family of Richard J. “Dick”, please visit our flower shop. To plant a tree in memory, please visit our Sympathy Shop.
