Edmond Rudolph Kleine

Edmond Rudolph Kleine, 86, of San Angelo, Texas passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at Central Texas Rehabilitation and Nursing in Ballinger.

He was born in Cayote, Texas on October 27, 1925 to Edward and Aurina Kleine, the fourth of eight children, and grew up in Bosque County during the Great Depression.

Ed was drafted out of high school in 1944 and served in combat with the 103rd Army Division in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European Campaigns in France, Germany, and Austria. Fluent in German and fearless, he served with distinction, advancing from ammunition bearer to sergeant and squad leader.

Oil field work eventually led him to Fort Stockton, Texas where he met and married Clara Jo Dyche in 1954 and with whom he had four children. Although they divorced after forty years of marriage, they remained friends and enjoyed their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together.

Ed wore many hats during his life: tug boat captain, driller, pumper, roustabout, and plant operator. He enjoyed golf, cold beer, his morning paper, broadcast baseball, and kidding and teasing of everyone he knew and met.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Melvin and Erwin, and his sisters, Thelma Harris and Elvira Conrad.

Edmond is survived by his former wife; his four children, Linda Braden and her husband, Aaron, of Midland; Carmen Barber and her husband, Chris, of Sterling City; Rick Kleine and his wife, Tammy, of China Spring; and Greg Kleine of San Angelo. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Matt, Justin, Brandi, Ryan, Trevor, Kendra, and Breanna, and two great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Edna Meinkowsky, Clara Dee Bronstad, and Geneva Coughlin; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Clifton Funeral Home Chapel in Clifton, Texas.