William Owen Klein

William Owen Klein passed peacefully on the evening of November 8, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald W. and Kathryn B. Klein, his wife, June M. Klein and his sisters Barbara and Larinda.

He is survived by his loving sister Mary K Ellison, his brother Donald, sister-in-law Vienna Lucas, sons Paul, Donald and daughter Kathryn Hansen. He also leaves behind daughter-in-law Rebecca A. Bush, son-in-law Richard Hansen, granddaughters Kandace Guzman, Sydney Klein and McKenna Hansen.

Born in Portland, Oregon on November 3, 1936, Bill was raised by his loving parents, Donald and Kathryn. He loved being with his grandparents Christian, a hard working immigrant from the Netherlands, and Jesse Combs, a bold, colorful milliner and real estate agent. He was fond of summers spent on the shores of the Willamette river near Oregon City as well as vacations in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast. Bill played Center on the Central Catholic High School football team, the proud winners of two Oregon State Championships. A love of automobiles led to a job at a service station across the street from the drug store where the lovely June Gardiner worked. The two courted and before long were married on February 4, 1961. Bill took an accounting position with Chevron, which led to a career of 44 years. He and June started a family with the birth of their two sons in Portland before a family move to Iowa where their only daughter was born. Another company transfer brought the family to Fresno, California where Bill became a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and a regular lecturer at St. Anthony’s of Padua Church. In retirement, Bill enjoyed visiting friends at Uncle Harry’s Bagel shop, watching airplanes at Chandler Field, watching the Fresno Grizzlies while celebrating family birthdays and anniversaries. He also enjoyed vacationing in the Pacific Northwest where he attended many Seattle Mariner games, Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Seattle Opera, the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field and the Center for Wooden Boats on the shore of Lake Union.

The family would like to thank Angela Kutnerian and her staff at Fresno Guest Home for caring for our dad over the past year as well as Bristol Hospice that assisted with his care in his final months.

Visitation, Monday, November 29, 2021 at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns and Blair Funeral Home, 836 East Nees, Fresno, CA. Followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00pm.

Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 10:00 am at St. Anthony's of Padua,

5770 N. Maroa Ave., Fresno, Ca., 93704.

A Graveside service will occur Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 11:15 P.M. at St. Peters Cemetery,

264 N. Blythe Ave., Fresno, CA 93706.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Klein family.