Jon was born November 22, 1948 to Donald and AdaBelle (Halstead) Klein in Alexandria, the second of six children. In junior high and high school he excelled at wrestling and was an All-State wrestler. After graduating from Jefferson High School in 1967, Jon enlisted in the military and served as a Marine corporal in Vietnam.
Jon married Susan Skrove in 1974. They enjoyed the home they built south of Lake Ida with quick access to fishing and hunting. In 1981, their daughter, Jessica, was born and Jon taught her to hunt, fish and fix just about anything.
Jon worked a variety of trucking jobs and in 1979 he joined Holiday Gas Companies where he drove gas transport for 21 years. In June of 2000, after a car accident left him paraplegic, he continued to dispatch and manage the trucks for Holiday from his home in Miltona. He and Sue divorced in 2004 but have remained close friends.
Jon never let his disability get the best of him or hinder his spirit. He found ways to continue hunting, fishing, riding ATV, driving his own vehicle and living independently until the very end of his life with minimal help.
Jon enjoyed many trips to Canada and Red Lake fishing and hunting with his friends and brother Dan, all of whom helped him to find more inventive ways for him to get himself into "trouble" while continuing to live life to the fullest. Jon was known for his sense of humor, having an opinion about everything, his uncanny ability to take 30 minutes to tell a 5-minute story and making sure that he took good care of his family and friends.
Jon was an active member of the Alexandria VFW, Legion, NRA, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and Quality Deer Management Association.
Jon was preceded in death by his infant sister, Mary; father, Don; sister, Judy; and mother, AdaBelle.
He is survived by his daughter, Jessica (fiance, Bill Blanchard); ex-wife, Sue Klein; brother, Jim and wife Rose of Maple Grove; sister, Patti, of Midland, MI; brother, Dan, of Crystal; and close friends he considered part of his family, Kelly and Carrie Borchert.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Franciscan Sisters, 116 8th Ave SE, Little Falls, MN.
Visitation is Wednesday, January 15 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.
Jon worked a variety of trucking jobs and in 1979 he joined Holiday Gas Companies where he drove gas transport for 21 years. In June of 2000, after a car accident left him paraplegic, he continued to dispatch and manage the trucks for Holiday from his home in Miltona. He and Sue divorced in 2004 but have remained close friends.
Jon never let his disability get the best of him or hinder his spirit. He found ways to continue hunting, fishing, riding ATV, driving his own vehicle and living independently until the very end of his life with minimal help.
Jon enjoyed many trips to Canada and Red Lake fishing and hunting with his friends and brother Dan, all of whom helped him to find more inventive ways for him to get himself into "trouble" while continuing to live life to the fullest. Jon was known for his sense of humor, having an opinion about everything, his uncanny ability to take 30 minutes to tell a 5-minute story and making sure that he took good care of his family and friends.
Jon was an active member of the Alexandria VFW, Legion, NRA, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, and Quality Deer Management Association.
Jon was preceded in death by his infant sister, Mary; father, Don; sister, Judy; and mother, AdaBelle.
He is survived by his daughter, Jessica (fiance, Bill Blanchard); ex-wife, Sue Klein; brother, Jim and wife Rose of Maple Grove; sister, Patti, of Midland, MI; brother, Dan, of Crystal; and close friends he considered part of his family, Kelly and Carrie Borchert.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Franciscan Sisters, 116 8th Ave SE, Little Falls, MN.
Visitation is Wednesday, January 15 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.
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