Jerome Grover Klump

- John 3:16

Joe Klump was promoted to heaven on October 6, 2019.

Jerome (Joe) Grover Klump was born on August 21, 1931 in Perryville, Missouri, the 4th of 12 children and oldest son of Jerome and Thelma Klump. His sister couldn't say Jerome so she called him "Joe-me" and the nickname Joe stuck thereafter. After attending seminary, he worked on a river boat and then was drafted into the Army, so he promptly joined the Air Force, serving from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War. He met a Texan, Leona Siegel, in Webster Groves, Missouri, where she was attending college, and they married in 1957. Joe enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated with a degree in engineering and then accepted a job with Dow Chemical in Orange, Texas where two of their daughters (Michele and Teresa) were born. He then took a job in Winter Haven, Florida, where their other two children (Anne and David) were born and he managed to build his own house, a clubhouse, and a giant swingset for the kids when he wasn’t working. Joe then moved to Houston to take a long term job with Hughes Tool Company. Joe and Leona divorced in 1972. It was at Hughes Tool company where purchased some large timbers from a 1910 building that was demolished around that he used to build a two-story, four-winged A frame house on an acre and a half of land in Northwest Houston. Neighbors continually stopped by to ask if he was building a church since the house was in the shape of a cross (from above). It was also at Hughes Tool Company where met his future wife, Mary Keller, who he married in 1978. They were married for 41 years and the house he built is still standing! Mary's daughters (Anita and Frieda) and grandchildren and great grandchildren were added to the family. Joe worked for himself as a house inspector and contractor after leaving Hughes Tool and Lee Rowe Construction company. He finally retired at age 86!

Joe was larger than life – 6’4” with size 13 EEE feet and hands so big that he couldn’t type without hitting two keys at once. Joe loved building things and each of his children has furniture built by him. He was the definition of a do-it-yourself, renaissance man who could fix anything! His motto was “If you can fix it yourself, why pay someone else to do it?” Joe’s do it yourself attitude extended to health care. When someone dropped a heavy load on his foot, he dealt with the ensuing pressure by sterilizing a drill bit and drilling a hole in his black toenail to relieve the pressure.

Joe also had a big heart – he would help anyone, anywhere, any time, and put others first. With that big heart, Joe loved Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior and committed to living and serving Christ wherever he was. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and started a food bank with a friend by gathering day old food from bakeries and grocery stores. He would give you the shirt off of his back if you asked him for it – and make a joke about it too! Joe was a smart aleck and had a big sense of humor and played many practical jokes on family and friends throughout the years. He loved people and loved to laugh so almost everyone he knew had a great Joe Klump story!

Joe was a tough guy for sure! For the past 20 years or so, Joe has had heart problems. As he used to say “the warranty expired at age 65”! He was driving to do a house inspection one day years ago and his arm was really hurting. He passed a hospital so he pulled in to have it checked out then went on his way. The doctor called their house and gave his wife “instructions for her husband’s surgery tomorrow”. She asked “What surgery?” Joe had continued on to do the inspection without even calling her! The surgery was a double bypass! It's no mystery why he had heart problems – he gave too much of his heart away...to his wife, his family, friends, strangers….he didn’t save enough for himself!

To sum up Joe Klump:

1. He loved Jesus

2. He loved people and helping them

3. He loved a good joke

4. He was amazingly tough

5. He was a hard worker

6. He was creative

7. He was a giver

As Joe’s favorite scripture, Psalm 118:24 says:

This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Things we can do to honor Joe Klump are to love the Lord God with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Oh, and don't take yourself too seriously because you have to find humor in everything!

Joe is survived by his wife Mary Klump, children Michele Kuxhausen (husband Steve), Teresa Carpenter (husband Jim), Anne Klump, David Klump (wife Natalie), step daughters, Anita Schneider (husband Jimmy), Frieda Seibert, 9 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

A funeral was held at 10 a.m. on Monday October 14 at Encourager Church, 10950 Katy Frwy, followed by a reception and burial at the Houston National Cemetery.