Kleiman was Milwaukee’s first female TV reporter

As Milwaukee’s first female television reporter, Lillian Kleiman was considered a pioneer.

But Kleiman never thought of herself that way. Instead, the tough-nosed journalist, who spent the majority of her career at WITI-TV, always said she was just doing her job.

“She was doing what she was supposed to do, and I don’t think anything else ever came to mind,” said her son, Joe Kleiman.

She died Thursday after a long battle with cancer at 79.

Kleiman, who graduated from Riverside High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was best known for her doggedness as a reporter.

Jill Geisler, who called Kleiman a mentor, came to WITI in 1973 as a young reporter. Sitting in the same newsroom as Kleiman, Geisler would hear her on the phone with a government official, often changing the way she asked a question so she could get the answers she was seeking.

Geisler said Kleiman often would be at a news conference with former Mayor Henry Maier, who didn’t have an overly amicable relationship with the media, and listen to him turn down questions other reporters asked. Kleiman would often raise her hand and ask the same thing until she got something from him. That’s how she was.

“She believed in holding the powerful accountable,” Geisler said.

Her reporting won accolades, and she was inducted into the Silver Circle with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Her personal relationships, however, were as important to

LILLIAN KLEIMAN

Funeral services will be Monday at noon at Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun, 2020 W. Brown Deer, River Hills. The burial follows at Spring Hill Cemetery, 166 S. Hawley Court, Milwaukee.

Her late son Daniel inspired the family to create the Vernon Open, which benefits a fund that supports the fight against pancreatic cancer. The family encourages memorial contributions to the fund at vernonopen.com. her as professional accomplishments, Geisler said.

Geisler said Kleiman was called the “senior-ranking mom” in the WITI newsroom. The newsroom ritual required her to be the first one to hold an employee’s newborn baby the first time it was brought into the office.

“She has a beautiful family, and she had a remarkable career that she would tell you she would measure through the success of others,” Geisler said.

Joe Kleiman said his mother was always able to separate her work life from home and was a down-to-earth woman who always put others before herself.

In addition to her son Joe, Kleiman is survived by her husband, Max Kleiman; sons William and Mark; and five grandchildren.