Harry W Klein

HARRY WM. KLEIN, 94, of Huntington, passed away Tuesday morning, March 10, 2015 at home. He was born April 15, 1920, in the Bronx, N.Y., a son of Henry Otto and Pauline Leontine (Vetter) Klein. Mr. Klein was a Signal Supervisor for Erie-Lackawanna Railroad, retiring in 1980. From 1940 to 1942, he worked for the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a 1st Class Machinist. He helped build the Battleship Missouri and its twin sister ship, Iowa. He married "Emy Lou" Whitla on Jan. 26, 1942, and left two days later for Pearl Harbor as a volunteer machinist to help raise the U.S. Naval fleet. In May 1942, he aided in making emergency repairs to the Carrier Yorktown just days before the Battle of Midway. Following his work at Pearl Harbor, he served as a Marine until 1946. He was a 32 Degree Mason, a member since 1946. Surviving are his sons , Harry (Jill) of Lima, Ohio, Greg of Fort Wayne, Dennis of Huntington, and Robert (Susan) of Avon; and a daughter, Kathy (Randy) Bergdall of Leo. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years in 2004; older sister, Florence VanWyngaarden; younger brother, Robert Otto; daughter-in-law, Sharon Klein; and granddaughter, Khristine Smith. Memorial Service is 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at St Mark's Lutheran Church, 211 W. 9th Street, Auburn, Ind., with calling one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mark's Lutheran Church or Heartland Hospice.