Family and friends, thank you for coming today to celebrate the life of my father, Kenny Klein.

There are many stories that may be told, and it is difficult to capture everything you want to say in a short amount of time about a man who was so loved, but my brothers and sisters helped me, and allowed me the honor of presenting Dad’s Eulogy. So I will give it a go:

In our lives, we all have people we look up to, more or less as role models. For me, those have been one of my former employers, my father-in-law, Herb Ericksen, and my parents. I have often wanted to ask them what wisdom or advice they would like to pass along to future generations. Unfortunately, with my father, the time never seemed quite right.

But as I thought about it, I saw a common thread in the way these people live there lives, and realized that they had already provided their philosophy by the way they live their lives. For my Dad, that could be summarized by “TGIF”, which is not “Thank God It’s Friday”.

The first part is thanking God, but the last parts are “Integrity” and “Family”.

THANKING GOD. Although my father was never very vocal about his religion, early on we knew where he stood, as he just put the fear of God in us kids. A story later on in his life involves my oldest daughter, Kelsey. When she was born my wife and I were between churches and trying to decide where to attend.

Although my dad never said anything, it was apparently taking too long and he was getting frustrated. One weekend when my parents were taking care of Kelsey, my dad went down and baptized Kelsey in Lake Pana.

INTEGRITY. This is a word that I feel describes my Dad, but a word that is difficult to define. One dictionary defines integrity as: “Behavior in accordance with a strict code of values, morals, honesty, the quality of wholeness”.

I believe a person with integrity does the right thing when nobody is looking. It is a person that does what they say they are going to do. And this I think describes my father.

However, there were other of my father’s traits that I think could be included in this description. Dad bragged on his kids and grandkids, but not on himself. He was a pretty good basketball player, but never really talked about it. Earlier this year I met a man at a game who grew up in Pana. When he found out I was Kenny’s boy, he asked me if I played basketball and said that my Dad was a “helluva player”. When I told Dad about this he simply said: “Oh, I wasn’t that good”. And last night I heard again Dad playing basketball with his good friend Melvin “Dunk” DeBarr.

Dad was also a pretty good baseball player, and enjoyed watching his sons (and some of his daughters) play, but never talked much about his experience. But he was probably better than any of us. I was told, not by Dad, that he and his friend Bill Bailey would catch and pitch to each other, and one game my Dad pitched a perfect game and struck out every batter.

And one evening in a family softball game at the farm, it was getting late and I think Dad was ready to call it a day. He hit the ball over the barn, and we never did find that ball. That was a softball about 350 – 400 feet.

Although he had complex ideas on world issues, he always listened with respect to other’s ideas. Dad did not look up to people, and did not look down on people. He always seemed unimpressed by celebrity or power, and was mindful of his own ability to help others.

He was a very strong man, but had a soft heart. My brother Jeff shared that when he lived in Chicago, Dad never liked the City much and didn’t like to visit, in part because it hurt him to see all of the homeless street people.

FAMILY. Dad and Mom were together about 60 years (married over 55) and the two became one in many ways. His eyes sparkled in love of only one woman - our mother.

In their younger adult years, Mom and Dad worked very hard, side by side, to provide for their family. They did this with a philosophy of faith and love, with a spirit of self-sacrifice, and never complained.

After retirement, Mom & Dad were not world travelers, but they were well traveled. They would try to make every grandchild event they could: birthdays, sporting events, school programs & plays. They also loved following the Pana Panthers and the Fighting Illini. When there was not a sporting event, they filled their days with shopping and their evenings with dancing.

Dad had an unwavering love for his children, and especially loved his grandchildren. His face would light up and a big smile would come across his face when they walked in the door. And he had so many “adopted” children, like Jean and Crystal and Alice.

One philosophy that he appeared to live by was that he never did anything that would bring dishonor to his wife or family; he wanted us to be proud of him and our family.

THE END. Now as I was trying to figure how to end the Eulogy, it occurred to me that I hadn’t mentioned that dad was a perfectionist, that he liked country music, and I found out just last week that he shared my enjoyment of David Allan Coe.

So the inspiration for the ending was provided by God, Dad, and David Allan Coe.

If Dad was here, he would probably say, “Now son, you did a nice eulogy and I appreciate that. But it wasn’t a perfect Eulogy. I know you mentioned my love of God, and Family, and thank you for your words about Integrity, although I really wasn’t that good at sports.

You mentioned a little about dancing, but I really loved to dance with your Mom.

Son, we are Kleins, and you didn’t mention fighting. But that is okay, because I don’t want to see us fight anymore.

And you didn’t tell the story about Ethan’s medal in my casket.

In order to have a perfect Eulogy, son, you need to write a second chapter, one that would include some of the many stories and jokes I used to tell, my smile, and how I danced; about partying and drinking beer at the Knights of Columbus, the Moose, the Elks, and other places with my family and friends. And you need to mention the cows, and the goats, and so many other things.”

But we don’t have time for that right now. So please come to the KC’s after the funeral and help write the second verse. Share your stories about my father, and ask my Mom to tell you the story about Ethan’s medal. Go with the memories of Dad in your life.

And to the kids, live your life knowing how much Grandpa loved you, and live it with Integrity to make Grandpa proud.

We ALL love you Dad, and we always will. Thank you, Dad.