Robert “Bob” William Klein, 92, of Longmeadow passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 16th, 2016 at his home in the presence of his family.
Bob was born on December 10th, 1923, in Highland Park, NJ, the son of Joseph and Ida Klein who came to America in 1904 from Austria, Hungary. He enlisted in the Signal Corp in Camden, N.J. and attended Rutgers College. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army and graduated from the Army Telephone School. Later, he was assigned to Navy Communications and the 1st Marine Battalion. Bob survived the battle of Peleliu and received an honorable discharge on February 25th, 1946. He was awarded the following medals: American Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal.
Bob met his future wife, Caroline playing Bingo at a friend’s house. Less than a year later, they were married in Highland Park. They had a happy marriage of 69 years. Bob spent his time volunteering for the First Aid Squad. He worked for Westvaco where a managerial promotion transferred their family to Longmeadow, MA, where they continued to reside. Bob became a Deacon at South Congregational Church. He is survived by his wife Caroline Klein, their two daughters Carol Kasabien and Susan Marsh, and three grandchildren, Amanda, Emily and Timothy Marsh.
Family will receive friends from 4-6 pm Monday, November 21st, 2016 at Browne Memorial Funeral Chapel in Enfield, CT. A burial with military honors will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, November 22nd, in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.