Chris and Diane Kleyla

Paul Christopher “Chris” Kleyla, 77 of Raleigh, NC passed away on December 5, 2025 after years long battle with multiple myeloma cancer. His wife of 55 years, Diane Dara Krause Kleyla, 77, passed away on June 21, 2026 after decades of struggling with scleroderma. Diane and Chris were born only 7 days apart and having met when they were 19, they spent almost the entirety of their lives together—indeed in the end they were barely apart for a season.

Chris was born in Miami, Florida on August 27, 1948. He was the eldest son of Paul & Mary Kleyla, and one of 11 children total. H graduated from LaSalle High School in Miami and went on to receive a masters in Entomology from University of Florida. Chris worked as a product manager at Bayer Crop Science, formally, Rhône Poulenc and Union Carbide for 47 years. He served in the United States Coast Guard prior to college. He enjoyed tennis and walks in the woods with his children in his earlier years. He always had a deep love for animals—especially the less “cute” species like snakes, insects and turtles. Chris enjoyed any animal documentary and often shared his knowledge of different unusual species with his children and grandchildren. He also loved riding Harley Davidson motorcycles with his best friend Roland, his “brother from another mother”.

Diane was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 4, 1948. She was the daughter of George and Margaret Krause, the oldest of six children and graduated from York High School in Hampton Virginia. She spent her life caring for her children and grandchildren and building a beautiful home. She created celebrations for every birthday and cared for her family when they were sick—even when she felt very sick herself. She made sure Kim and Emily always had a lunch packed and never missed a dance recital, school play or basketball game.

They are survived by their daughter Kim, son-in-law Lewis, grandson Max and granddaughter Evie.

It was their role as grandparents that really brought out the best in Chris and Diane. They filled Max and Evie’s lives with love, encouragement and joy, whether it was with trips to the beach, decorating gingerbread houses, feeding hummingbirds or long phone calls to hear about their lives. Chris turned them both into Florida Gator’s football fans and made Diane into a Carolina Hurricanes hockey fan—having caught the fever himself after watching the Stanley Cup run (and win!) with Kim in 2006. Max will miss his Nana’s good food (especially blueberry muffins) and Papa’s honest advice. Evie is grateful for her Papa’s must-see movie list and will miss talking to Nana about her life—always grateful for how good she was at remembering friends and asking about them.

Additionally, Chris is survived by sisters Mary, Margaret and Barbara and brothers Robert, William, James and Thomas. Diane is survived by sisters, Denise, Vicki, Kathleen and Michele and brother Vernon.

They preceded in death by their daughter Emily, Chris’s parents Paul and Mary, brothers Lawrence and John, sister Patricia and Diane’s parents George & Margaret.

It was the wish of both Chris and Diane to not have a funeral service or wake, but a burial service will be held on August 28, 2026 at 10am at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh where their ashes will be laid to rest with their daughter Emily.

The family wishes to thank No Place Like Home, Transitions LifeCare, Golden Harmony and Heartland Hospice. Chris and Diane suffered enormous pain for so long and the women of these companies offered sincere help and comfort at the end of their lives.

Chris and Diane often said their “song” was Orleans, Still the One: You’re still the one that makes me strong, Still the one I wanna take along, We’re still having fun and you’re still the one.

Graveside services will take place at 10:00am on Friday, August 28, 2026 at Oakwood Cemetery.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Kleyla family