Virginia Theresa Kliman

Virginia T. Kliman passed away peacefully at Angela Hospice in Livonia on June 28, 2023 at the age of 92. The third of five children of Peter and Augusta (DeSmet) Brengman, she was born on January 14, 1931 in Detroit. She enjoyed a happy childhood living in a small, but very active home on the east side of Detroit. Virginia graduated from St. David High School in 1949. Sometime after high school she met the love of her life, Marvin (Red) Kliman. Marvin was a sports nut, and lucky for him, so was Virginia. They were married in 1952 and welcomed their first child, Ruth Ann, into this world in August, 1953. Through the years, they were blessed with eight more children, Mary, Tom, Mike, Paul, Rick, Steve, Mark, and Julie. Up until 1975, they lived in different houses in Roseville and Detroit. During this time Virginia enjoyed being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She was very involved with all her children’s activities, both in and out of school. She especially loved attending any of their sports games. For those attending grade school, she made sure that a good meal was always waiting for them when they came home for lunch. She was a very good cook and an excellent baker. She was still making her famous pies into her 90’s. She loved having so many friends and relatives close by and enjoyed getting a good burger at Kavan’s Colony East.

In 1975, Marv and Virginia packed up and moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor, with their eight kids at the time. Once in Ann Arbor, she became a die-hard University of Michigan fan, especially for the football and basketball teams. Also, after a short time in Ann Arbor, they welcomed their ninth and last child, Julie, into this world in September 1976. Unfortunately, Marv passed away in 1987, after 35 years of marriage.

Virginia lived in the same house in Ann Arbor until the time of her passing. She lived alone for about the last 20 years. But, she was never alone. She loved her Catholic faith and her church and was very active in it. She loved attending senior luncheons and trips. She volunteered at the church’s funeral luncheons and she washed and ironed church linens. She had a group of church friends whom she attended Mass with on a regular basis, often followed by fellowship at a local diner. She had great neighbors who watched out for her. She was always outside in the summer working on her gardens or lawn and was busy shoveling snow in the winter (until her children wouldn’t let her anymore). And, of course, there were always the Detroit Tigers to watch, or the Lions.

She also enjoyed traveling out of town for weddings, vacations or just visiting her family up North, or down South in North Carolina, Tennessee, or Texas.

Virginia loved playing cards, especially euchre and beat (screw) your neighbor, Booyah! Grandma! She had a very good sense of humor and actually enjoyed being called “G-dog” by some of her grandchildren and “Virgi-baby” by other relatives. She will always be remembered for her signature saying of “whatever” that was frequently present in conversations that you had with her.

Her greatest joy was welcoming her children or grandchildren to her house for any occasion, not just the holidays. She may have complained about the mess they made after they left, but she really loved it. And the Christmas get-togethers were the best. Unfortunately, for the last couple of years, her house got smaller or the family got too big for these celebrations to continue.

She was active and of good mind and spirits until the day of her passing.

She touched so many lives and will be deeply missed by all who loved her including her children: Ruth Ann Habalewsky (Marty), Mary Meernik (Paul), Tom Kliman (Amy), Mike Kliman (Tina), Paul Kliman (Liesa), Rick Kliman (Kelly), Steve Kliman (Roba), Mark Kliman (Kelly) and Julie Boss (Dan); her 27 grandchildren: Michelle (Ben), Nicole, Nathan, Tim, Kaitlyn (Brent), Clare (Eric), Brian (Jennifer), Andrew (Kerry), Alex (JJ), Ben (Courtney), Jason, Jeff (Courtney), Samantha, Scott, Jeremy, Noah, Larisa, Jaclyn, Jim (Amanda), Anne, Ben, Tyler, Annalea, Ian, Evan, Eric, and Ryan; 17 great-grandchildren, and her sisters Lenora Coppiellie and Sharon Kopitzke.

Preceding her in death was her husband Marvin, her brother, Al Brengman, and sister, Dorothy Berger.

To honor Virginia’s life, family members will greet visitors at Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Friday, July 7, from 4-9 p.m. Her funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, July 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Ann Arbor.