Albert Lewis Klein Jr.

Albert “Skip” Lewis Klein, Jr., 85 of Onalaska died on Sunday, March 22, 2015. He was born on February 4, 1930 in Milwaukee, WI, to Albert and Otilia (Arlt) Klein. Skip graduated from Aquinas High School and proudly served with the US Marine Corps in the Korean War. Skip married Janice Fought in 1976. He retired from UW-La Crosse in 1993 and enjoyed those retirement years traveling with Janice to their favorite winter island in Alabama. In prior years, Skip worked for the city of La Crosse and Gateway Transportation Company. Skip was a true outdoorsman teaching his children and many others to enjoy nature at its fullest. Since its formation, Skip was a volunteer and board member of the North American Squirrel Association (nasa) helping the elderly and physically challenged enjoy the outdoors. Skip is survived by his wife Janice and his little 4 legged pal “Ruby”, five children, Teresa Mears of La Crosse, Linda (Doug) Stotz of Loveland, CO, Nancy (Chris)Turnbull of Owatonna, MN, Ron (Renee) Klein of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Kathy (Al) Sanford of Baraboo, WI, eight grandchildren, Kristin (Jake) Schams of Fort Collins, CO, John Mears of La Crosse, WI, Katie Mears of Milwaukee, WI, Matt Stotz of Loveland, CO, Elle (John) Fryling of Steamboat Springs, CO, Jesse Klein of Steamboat Springs, CO, Chloe Crawford of Baraboo, WI, and Cameron Crawford of Baraboo, WI, three great grandchildren Andrew and Lucas Schams and Mason Fryling. Three sisters, Jane Tornbloom of Dubuque, IA, Mick (Joe) Wilder of Wausau, WI, and Carol (Charles) Wuensch of Coon Valley, WI and many nieces and nephews. Skip was preceded in death by his daughter Wendy.
Memorial services will be held at 11am on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Onlaska. Rev. Jason Stanton and Rev. Karyn Bodenschatz will officiate. Burial will follow in the Onalaska City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 until 8 pm on Wednesday evening at the Schumacher Kish Funeral and Cremation Services Onalaska chapel; 907 Sand Lake Rd. Vistiation will also be held at the church on Thursday morning from 10am until the time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to nasa or to First Lutheran Church.