Lester Louis Klein

Lester Klein died peacefully, on Monday, after celebrating his 87th birthday on October 13th. He was the fourth of 4 sons born to Adolph and Sadie Klein, who had immigrated to the U.S. from Hungary. Lester was in the first graduating class from Jefferson High School, attended St. Mary's University and graduated from the University of Texas after obtaining both B.A. and J.D. degrees. He married his wife of 61 years, Jeanette Melcher in 1940. In 1941 he enlisted in the Army, rising in rank from 2nd Lt. To Lt. Colonel. Following World War II, he worked for the City of San Antonio as a Municipal Court prosecutor and then as Back-Tax Attorney. He practiced law with his brother, Al Klein and his nephew, Keith Klein, and later with his son, Joel. He was a mentor to and a partner with Joel from 1967 until his death. Lester was a member of Congregation Agudas Achim, B'nai B'rith, the Texas and San Antonio Bar Association and was a 50 year Mason. He was a past-president of both B'nai B'rith and the Agudas Achim Men's Club. He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son and daughter-in-law, Joel and Carol Klein; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Howard Bernstein of Chicago; 5 grandchildren, Alyssa Tiras, Houston, TX, Meryl Metni, Phoenix, AZ, Matthew Klein, Atlanta, GA, Abby Penson, Los Angeles, CA and Erin Bernstein, Chicago, IL; and 4 great grandchildren.