Eric Klemm

Eric Klemm was born February 10, 1934, on a farm in Wenzken, East Prussia (now a part of Russia) to Paul and Emma Klemm, the tenth out of eleven children, and passed away peacefully at his home in Upland with his family by his side on May 16, 2024.

At the age of ten years old, Eric and his family fled their farm by horse and buggy due to their farm being taken over by the Russians during WWII. The family led by their widowed mother journeyed all the way to northern Germany and settled in the village of Rade where they were taken in as refugees by a German farmer and his family. The family was able to live and work on the farm until they were able to move out on their own.

At the age of 18, after several of Eric’s siblings immigrated to Canada, he followed them for a better future. He lived in Kitchener and Vancouver learning English and working various odd jobs. In 1958 he moved from Canada to southern California, and in 1959 met his future wife, Christel. They married in Pasadena on December 30, 1961.

Eric worked for Cleveland Crane and Engineering in the City of Commerce as an Ironworker, and when the company relocated to Cucamonga in 1967, Eric moved to Upland with Christel and their two young children, Sabina and Robert.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Christel, his daughter Sabina, and son Robert (Donna) along with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and his faithful dog, Teddy.

Eric was preceded in death by his parents and his ten brothers and sisters. They are all now reunited in Heaven joking and teasing one another.

A funeral Service will be held at Stone Funeral home in Upland, CA, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.