Clifford Donald Kleist Sr.

Born in Los Angeles on June 14, 1922 to Clarence Kleist (b. 1894) of Colorado Springs, an engineer and Nelita--nee Blatchley (b. 1903) of St. Louis, an organist; the children of European immigrants. As a young boy Cliff was an sacristan at the neighborhood Episcopal church and played football for Mount Vernon Jr. High School before taking a job for the Philippine Elizalde mining family in Clark County, Nevada. Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps before Pearl Harbor, he was recognized as both a Rifle and Pistol Expert in Boot Camp before serving as an aircraft crew chief at Guadalcanal (1942-1944). Offered a shot at the prestigious Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA Master Sergeant Kleist continued as a stateside instructor in the Marine Reserve while pursuing jobs at sea, with Western Airlines and later building his own company, Thermal Gas, a pioneering energy provider in Southern California and Mexico. He eventually did a twenty year tour with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation rising through the ranks from Corrections Officer to Chief of Plant Operations.

An accomplished private pilot, he also enjoyed painting, hiking, playing the guitar and building furniture.

He passed away peacefully at home in his sleep surrounded by family.

Clifford D. Kleist is survived by a wife, three children (one deceased), several grand children and great grandchildren. He was 97.