Charles Klein obituary
Charles Emil Klein passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston. He was born at home on March 7, 1940, in Oakwood Township, Wabasha County to Emil and Helen Klein. He attended country school and Elgin High School.
He joined the Air Force in 1957 as a member of the 340th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. He served one tour overseas, from 1959-1961, in Saudi Arabia. He was honorably discharged in 1963. He obtained his GED in 1957 while serving in the Air Force. He was proud to be a lifetime member of the Wabasha VFW Post #4086 and an active member of the Millville American Legion Post #579.
After his discharge from the Air Force, Charlie moved to Oronoco and became a member of the Iron Workers Union Local #512 in St. Paul. During his career as an iron worker, he worked throughout the Midwest and on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. He retired in 1995 as a lifetime member of the Iron Workers’ Union.
Upon retirement, he moved from Oronoco to Wabasha. Always a busybody, Charlie had numerous jobs after retirement. He drove bus for the Wabasha-Kellogg School District, established Charlie’s Saw Sharpening Service, and drove fertilizer truck for local farms. He was an avid handyman and loved to garden. Every morning, he could be found exercising at Lifetime Fitness, a routine he maintained until he moved into the Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston at age 85. He was a member of the Millville American Legion Honor Guard, volunteered as a Santa Claus for local tree farms and as a firearms safety instructor for 20+ years, built countless duck houses for local sportsmen, and could always be counted on for a sober ride home for anyone that asked. He was a very grateful friend of Bill W., and proud to be sober since December 24, 1977. He mentored and sponsored many people on their journey to sobriety.
He is survived by his daughter, Chelsea (Erik) Paaverud; sister, Marcella Hoffman; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Linda (Larry) Koehler and Marilyn (Donald) Smith; and brother-in-law, Lawrence Hoffman.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 7, at the United Church of Christ in Wabasha at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jim Clausen officiating, with visitation beginning one hour prior to the service at the church. A luncheon will follow the service, also at the church. Burial with full military honors will take place on Tuesday, July 7, at 3 p.m. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston. In accordance with Charlie’s wishes, he would like donations in his honor to be directed to the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery in Preston: https://mn.gov/mdva/donate/form.jsp?Id=11 or the Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston: https://mn.gov/mdva/donate/form.jsp?Id=47.
“If I could crack one good joke per day, I was happy!” - Charlie Klein
Arrangements entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel. The guest register may be signed at www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com.