Cover photo for Warren G. Klees's Obituary
Warren G. Klees Profile Photo

Warren G. Klees

December 6, 1923 — March 24, 2016

Warren G. Klees

Warren George Klees, age 92, formerly of Fernville, died on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at the Emmanuel Nursing Center, Danville.  He resided at the Meadows in Danville since since May 2002.

He was preceded in death by his wife of over 62 years. the former Grace Arlene Small, on February 14, 2014 and by two brothers, Karl Kermit Klees and Benjamin Franklin Klees.

Warren is survived by his son David Lee Klees and his wife Lorraine Ann (Baran) of Harrisburg, grandson Michael Jacob Klees and wife Morgan Lee (Charles) of Tunkhannock, granddaughter Alicia Marie Klees of State College; his brother Benjamin's daughter Molly Ann Lukeski, Bloomsburg, and Benjamin's step-children Kenneth Hontz, Manheim, and Nancy Hontz Garcia, Berwick, along with their families, sister-in-law Doris Small Tomashefski of Espy, and numerous of his wife’s nieces and nephews and their families.

He  was born December 6, 1923, at 2144 Mountain Road, Catawissa, PA (Locust Twp.), son of the late Charles Harrison and Laura Amanda (Fahringer) Klees. He started attending Camp School in September 1929 and finished the eight grades in seven years. Warren then graduated from Locust Township Vocational High School in May 1940. After high school, he worked at the Bloomsburg Silk Mill (Bloomsburg Mills, Inc.) and the Glenn L. Martin Company in Baltimore as a riveter on B-26 bombers.

He was inducted into the United States Naval Reserve on September 1,1943, at Wilkes-Barre, PA, and reported for active duty on September 8. He went to the U.S. Naval Training Station, Sampson, NY and was then trained in electronics at Michigan City, Indiana; Texas A&M; San Francisco; and Pearl Harbor.

On January 2, 1945, Warren left Pearl Harbor on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri. On January 16 at Ulithi in the Caroline Islands he was transferred for duty to the U.S.S. Sumner, Auxiliary Geodetic Survey ship number 5, under commanding officer Irving M. ("Yankee") Johnson, who would be the subject of three National Geographic TV documentaries. His duties on the Sumner included operating and maintaining the ship's radio, public address system, and radar.

During his wartime service on the Sumner, Warren would be at Guam, Iwo Jima (where on March 8 a Japanese shell from the island killed one crew member and wounded three others), and Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands. After the Japanese surrender, he traveled on the Sumner to Inchon, South Korea; Taku, Tsingtao, and Shanghai, China; the Eniwetok Atoll, and the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands to do survey work for the upcoming atomic bomb test. On May 6, 1946, he received an honorable discharge at Bainbridge, Maryland as an Electronic Technician's Mate, Second Class.

For his World War II service, he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, Pacific Theater Ribbon with 1 star (for Iwo Jima), World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal, and Philippine Liberation Medal from the Philippine Government.

After the War, Warren worked at the Regal Shirt Corporation, Catawissa, as a presser. He used his World War II experience to begin his 35-year career at Bell Telephone, Bloomsburg, on July 9, 1951, as a Central Office Repairman, retiring on August 8, 1986, as a Switching Equipment Technician from the Bloomsburg office of Bell Atlantic.

As a teenager Warren started tracing his family tree, a love which he would pass onto his son David. In 1964, he published "Small family genealogy" on Grace's paternal ancestors; his book is in the collection of the Library of Congress.

Warren and Grace visited all 48 lower states and many parts of Canada. Warren enjoyed driving, naming all of his cars, and he only once bought a non-Chrysler product. He safely drove for over 70 years until he, on his own free will, "quit driving while he was ahead" at the age of 90.

During his retirement he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, doing Sudoku and crosswords, reading newspapers and magazines, watching the New York Yankees on TV, and volunteering in the office at St. Matthew Lutheran Church.  

As Grace's health declined, Warren was a devoted and loving caretaker, eventually taking over all of the housework and cooking. His organizational skills put the rest of the family to shame.

At the time of his death he was a member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg; American Legion Post 541, Catawissa; Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A.M., Bloomsburg; Caldwell Consistory, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Bloomsburg; Communications Workers of America/AFL-CIO; Association of BellTel Retirees; and Telephone Pioneers of America. Over the years he had also belonged to Columbia County Historical Society, AARP, Susquehanna Valley Association of Retired Men, Susquehanna Valley WWII Veterans, and his original home church, St. Paul's Lutheran, Numidia.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Emmanuel Nursing Home for the compassionate and loving care given to Warren.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market St., Bloomsburg, with his pastor, the Rev. Dr. Joel L. Zeiders, officiating, followed by interment in New Rosemont Cemetery, Espy, with full military honors by the Catawissa Area Veterans group. Viewing will be in the Church parlor from 10-11 a.m. with Masonic memorial services at 9:45 a.m.

The family will provide flowers. Memorials may be sent to the Memorial Fund of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 N. Market St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 325 Market St., Bloomsburg.

Condolence messages and photographs may be posted at:  www.krinerfuneralhomes.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Warren G. Klees, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Viewing

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

10:00 - 11:00 am (Eastern time)

St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Bloomsburg, PA

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Funeral Service

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Bloomsburg, PA

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