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17/02/2008 3:21 am
KLEIN Frederick W. Klein, Jr. passed away at Ochsner - Westbank on Thursday, February 14, 2008. Beloved husband of fifty-seven years of Betty Blancq Klein. Loving father of Frederick W. Klein, III, (wife, Dianna); Claude L. Klein, (wife, Mary); Michael A. Klein, Sr. and Andrea Klein Landeche, (husband, Norman). Son of the late Frederick W. Klein, Sr. and Marie Lapuyade Klein; step-son of the late Mary Alcorn Manzoni Klein. Brother of Robert Alvin Klein, Sr. and Louis Herman Klein, Sr.; step-brother of the late Geraldine Manzoni Klein. Brother-in-law of Ronald H. Blancq, Cecilia M. Blancq and Henry A. Blancq, Jr. Also survived by fourteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and many other loving relatives and friends. Mr. Klein, age 84 years, was a U. S. Navy Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He retired 14 years ago as Chief Engineer of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass from Christ the King Catholic Church, 535 Deerfield Road, Terrytown, LA, on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. Visitation will be held at the Church from 10:00 AM until funeral time. Guest Book available to sign online at www.mem.com. Arrangements handled by WESTSIDE/LEITZ-EAGAN FUNERAL HOME, 5101 Westbank Expressway, Marrero. For information, call 341-9421.
Published in The Times-Picayune on 2/15/2008.
17/02/2008 3:45 am
Sad to hear of his passing...
My family & I shared many a captains table with Chief Klein during the "gold old days" (at least to us!!!)
His coffee (whether he made it or not, I'm not certain) in the engine room was always the best on the boat when Grandpa, Dad & I would visit down there in the morning after breakfast...I'd always have a coffee cup with me, and he'd say, better top that off with some good stuff!!!
requiescat in pace Cheif Klein...Pax Tecum...
17/02/2008 2:14 pm
Thank you, Dennis, for the notice. We had lost touch with Fred over the years, but as I type this, I can glance up and see a picture of him standing with Sharon and me on the grand staircase. It is sad that another "old head" has left us.
17/02/2008 3:32 pm
Dennis
Thank you for passing along this sad news. Fred was a kind man good friend to all crew members. I remember especially the kind gesture he made to all of us in those very early days in 1976 when the MQ was running out ouf New Orleans. He knew that most of us had a lot to learn about the New Orleans/Cajun culture. One evening after leaving New Orleans and heading for Baton Rouge (which was as far north as we dared to go with the paddlewheel that was too heavy and constantly overheating the bearings) he treated all the crew out on the bow to a bushel of crawfish. He ended up teaching most of us, myself included, how to eat a Mud Bug. I guess it was a good thing that it was dark and we could not really see what we were eating but What Fun! Thank you Fred Klein, you are thought of often.
17/02/2008 4:16 pm
Laurel + Hardy, Abbott + Costello, Fred Kline + Nick LaBella. The 3 greastest comedy teams ever. Fred provided some laughs and " Big Easy" attitude to some very stressful times. He was one of the first to point out to me that my life was going on even when I was on a boat and I'd better do something meaningful to/for myself everyday on board. It was not time I would get back
13/10/2008 6:01 pm
ty Dennis and god that brings back Memories, Nick Labella and Fred lol. Fred was one of a kind abrasive as heck with a heart of Gold