Father of Harvard man, electrical engineer
Kenneth Klem. (Courtesy photo)
Kenneth A. Klem, 75, passed away on Monday, March 12, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Joan (Lamontagne) Klem. Klem was born on June 13, 1936, in Waterbury, Conn., son of the late Anthony and Agnes (Sweedoc) Klem. He was an electrical engineer and worked for Anaconda Metal Hose for 25 years and retired from Somers Brass, where he worked for 11 years. He was a graduate of Crosby High School class of 1954 and a 1959 graduate of University of Vermont. At UVM he was a fraternity brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He coached baseball, soccer, and basketball for East Mountain Athletic Association and was a member of the Somers Golf League.
Besides his loving wife Joan, he is survived by three daughters, Mary Dolan and her husband James, of Southington, Conn, Beth Breeney and her husband, James, of Charlotte, N.C., and Kathy Norton and her husband Douglas, of Byfield, Mass.; four sons, Michael Klem and his wife Lisa, of Southington, Conn., Christopher Klem and his wife Carin, of Harvard, Mass., Timothy Klem and his wife Michele, of Cheshire, Conn., and Dennis Klem and his wife Bethany, of Waltham, Mass. He also leaves his sister Geraldine Costello of Waterbury, Conn., brother-in-law Robert Lamontagne and his wife Gloria, of Prospect, Conn., and several nieces and nephews.
He was the proud grandfather of 23 grandchildren: Elise, Michael, Matthew, and Sarah Dolan; Collin, Cari, and Kelly Breeney; Melissa, Daniel, Jenna, and Ben Norton; Ryan, Rebecca, Rachel, Erica, and Erin Klem; Mackenzie, C.J., Cathleen, and Jack Klem; and Leigha, Jillian, and Elizabeth Klem.
He also leaves his mall-walking buddies: Armand, Al, Vel, Don, Lee, Jack, and George. Ken devoted his life to his wife, children and grandchildren and enjoyed helping his friends and neighbors.
The funeral will be held on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 9:45 a.m. from the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 26 Waterbury Road, Route 69, Prospect, Conn., to SS. Peter and Paul Church, 67 Southmayd Road, Waterbury, Conn., for a mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to either: Yale Smilow Cancer Center, PO Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611 or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For more information and to place online condolences, visit www.buckmillerbrothers.com.
