Alfred R. Kleine

Alfred R. Kleine age 88 of Daykin, Nebraska passed away on December 14, 2012 at the Heritage Care in Fairbury . He was born September 12, 1924 near Garden City, Kansas the son of Fred and Ada Hahn Kleine. He was baptized in infancy. When he was 3 years old he had double pneumonia with a very high fever which left him mentally handicapped.

They moved back to Nebraska in 1926 where they made their home in the Hebron area. In 1932 they moved to the Daykin area where they were active members of St. John Lutheran Church in Daykin.

He received his schooling in the Hebron and Daykin vicinity until the age of 13 when he stayed home and helped his parents on the farm and care for the younger siblings. He also helped others with baling hay and various other jobs.

He studied his catechism and memorized a lot with the help of his mother and sponsor. In 1951, he got confirmed by Herman C. Damm. For a number of years he mowed the church grounds and folded bulletins for the pastor which he very much enjoyed. He also enjoyed riding his bicycle for many years.

In April of 2007 he was diagnosed with cancer of his mouth and did the series of treatments during which time he made his home with his sister Martha. On February 15, 2008 he had a major surgery removing part of a jaw bone and inside cheek. In May of 2012, he had part of the roof of his mouth removed which made eating and drinking difficult even with a plate. He later lived with another sister Delores from July, 2012 until he entered Heritage Care Center on November 12, 2012.

Survivors include his sisters Martha Sasse of Diller, Nebraska, Delores Kugel of Fairbury, Nebraska, Darlene Kohel and husband Alvin, brother Lawrence Kleine all of Beatrice, Nebraska, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Laura Marie, brother Melvin Kleine, sister-in-law Elfrieda Kleine, brothers-in-law Orlyn Sasse, Willard Dorn and Marvin Kugel.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 1:30 P.M. at the St. John Lutheran Church in Daykin. Burial will be at the St. John Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends 4:00 to 6:00 at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury.