Hans Konrad Klar

Hans was born in Arnstadt, Germany on June 30, 1945, the day the Soviets invaded the town. He grew up in war torn East Germany under Communist rule until he and his mother escaped to the west in 1954. He spent a year in a children's home in West Germany. They managed to come to America under the sponsorship of his aunt and uncle who had come to America two years before. He stayed with their family for several years in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. He remembers being helped by so many kind people to assimilate in this new land. His high school football coaches named him the most valuable player and helped him to attend college on a football scholarship at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania.

It was during his college years that he met his wife Phyllis while life guarding in Beach Haven during the summers. They married the next year and then both got teaching jobs in the rapidly expanding Toms River school system with Hans teaching German at Toms River High School South. He continued his education, receiving his master’s degree from Rutgers University in 1972. In 1980, his daughter Stefanie was born, followed by James in 1982. Summers were spent on house projects, including building his own sunroom with some help from the family holding boards while he measured and nailed. The annual summer family road trip to Northern Michigan took at least three weeks. This is where Phyllis' large family welcomed him into their hearts.

In 2004, Hans began to live what he called his favorite job--retirement. Now he had the freedom to travel (especially to Germany) whenever he wanted. But daily life was great too which included sitting in front of his computer and plotting his investments, taking many mini trips to nearby places, walking all over with the family dogs, talking to many dear neighbors, and seeing his friends.

Hans enjoyed excellent health right up to the few months before the end. He was a very blessed person, and he knew it. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and dogs. He leaves behind his wife Phyllis, children Stefanie and James, grandchildren Rae and Ortley, his daughter in-law Ann-Elise (James's wife), and Georgia the dog. True to his nature, Hans insisted on a funeral with "no fuss". The family will be celebrating his life with a private service. A gravesite remembrance of Hans will be held later. Contributions can be made in his name to the local animal shelter.