Jerome (Jerry) Frances Klein
Jerome (Jerry) Frances Klein made his last dignified and most reverential gesture on March 5, 2023, proclaiming that he is ready to reunite with his beloved wife, Mary Maxine Stratman (Klein). His family surrounded him in the home that Mary and Jerry had filled with years of love and cherished memories as he peacefully made his ultimate journey to heaven. God thankfully broke the mold when Jerry was born to the late Caroline Regina Klein (Benne) and William Joseph Klein on February 23, 1931, in Prairie Home, Missouri. His father finished his earthly journey when Jerry was six weeks old. Jerry often referenced the influence that his father still had on his life, saying, “my mother never let his memory die in our home.” His family takes solace in knowing that the sacred circle will remain unbroken as Jerry is with his earthly and heavenly fathers now, after a lifetime of faith and belief that he would meet them upon his transition from this life.
Jerry’s deep love for Mary was profound and palpable to everyone who knew them. Their courtship began on a blind date, and Jerry asked Mary to marry him nine months later when they were washing the car at his mother’s home. Mary asked him to repeat the question, and he did, and then she said he should ask her again the following week. A few days later, she let him know that he could ask her again and accepted the proposal. Mary was a successful businesswoman, and she recognized that Jerry had a natural talent for business management as well. As a young man, when asked what he wanted to be someday, he replied, “I want to be a daddy!” This resonated with Mary, and as she and Jerry started their married life, they embraced their family-oriented futures and lives together. Jerry became the great daddy he dreamed of becoming, and Mary embodied the best qualities of a mother. With profound love, Mary and Jerry raised their five children, centered on the principles of patience, love, communication, empathy, supportiveness, consistency, problem-solving skills, good judgment, and always maintaining a sense of humor to navigate life. Most importantly, they provided a childhood grounded in Catholicism’s faith in God, instilling deep faith in a power greater than themselves, driven by unconditional love.
He was known as “Uncle Jerry” to many. He was a self-proclaimed (and actual) virtuoso as a ping pong, billiards, cards, basketball, football, mush ball, and horseshoe player. His competitive strategy included “getting into the heads” of his components, resulting in loads of teasing and laughter. The festivities, including family and friends on 36th street in Phoenix, are where “Uncle Jerry and Aunt Mary” became legendary. His children recall how these magical times included taking them to Elvis Presley, Liberace, Johnny Cash, June Carter, Jerry Jeff Walker, Wallace and Ladmo, Legend City, and a rodeo in Missouri where a young and upcoming artist named Roger Miller made his debut.
Jerry and Mary started their first business with hair salons and a Texaco in Jefferson City, Missouri. When they moved to Phoenix in 1959, they continued their fruitful family businesses in U-Haul, real estate investments, 7-11 convenience markets, and Apache Wells Grocery in Mesa. However, perhaps the most renowned business is owned and operated by their daughter today, June Yedinak’s Cutter’s Cottage in Phoenix. For over seven decades, these businesses employed Mary and Jerry’s siblings, sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. These businesses were the backdrop and platforms for the training and development of personal and professional skills for countless individuals in their family and their communities. Through their diligent demonstration of work principles and ethics, Mary and Jerry conveyed essential life lessons to the employees and their families and friends over the years. These individuals commonly share their experiences of being spiritually and personally uplifted, and these ideologies will undoubtedly be passed on throughout generations to come.
Jerry described in his own words that “whatever strength I have, I got from my Mom and Dad.” Being born during the depression without a father and being the youngest of eight children shaped Jerry’s formative years and resulted in a lifetime of frugality, hard work, and hard play, balanced by his fun mischief with his siblings, nieces, nephews, wife, children, and literally anyone he encountered. His mother, Caroline, trusted the family fortune and farm with the banks after her husband, Willy, died from pneumonia at the age of 35. However, the timing was poor because the banks closed soon after, and the monies disappeared. Caroline was tasked with raising their eight children on little income and without reserves. Jerry often spent seasons with his relatives, still maintaining his innately positive nature. When asked what it was like to have to wear girl’s clothes to school, which was met with some ridicule from his peers, he replied that he really didn’t think about it too much. In his witty words and personal renditions of stories, he often walked eight miles to school, in snow, uphill, both ways. These are examples of how Jerry persevered through tough times and celebrated fun times, just as he sang to his children and grandchildren, “we work as we work and we play as we play, this is the way to be happy and gay!”
Jerry is survived by his five children and their spouses, William (Bill) and Karin Klein, June and Jim Yedinak, Gayla and Brian Kofler, Roch and Deann Klein, and Mark and Lara Klein; his 14 grandchildren Angela, Tonya, Myra, Nicki, Jennifer, Bobbi, Justin, Kristina, William, Kelli, Shelley, Kurtis, Brad, and Aliah; his 24 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; and his many nieces, nephews, and their descendants.
Jerry will be honored on Thursday, March 16, at Queen of Heaven Cemetery at 1562 E. Baseline Rd. in Mesa, with a general gathering from 5-6pm, followed by a memorial service from 6-8pm. The Mass and Services will be at Christ the King Catholic Church on 1551 E. Dana Ave. in Mesa on Friday, March 17 at 11 am. Burial will follow at Queen of Heaven. A reception after the Friday services will be held at Mary and Jerry’s home.