James Russell Kleine

James was born in Las Animas, Colorado on June 6, 1925, the youngest of 6 children born to Christian E. and Inez D. (nee Williams) Kleine. He grew up in the area surrounding Canon City, Colorado, including Horse Creek, Hillside, Avondale and Florence.

During childhood James’s sight was severely impaired due to an accident in the home. He attended the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, where he characteristically helped his fellow students who were sightless. He graduated in 1943, as valedictorian. Always a naturally gifted musician, he performed a piano solo at the graduation. After graduating, he joined his father working for the Santa Fe Railroad for a time. James and his siblings maintained close bonds throughout their lifetimes, in a letter he reflected that his sisters Helen and Mary would talk with him for hours and “were my first therapists”. They loved music; the girls would sing and James would accompany them on the autoharp or piano.

Soon after World War II, several of James’ siblings had moved to California, “The Golden State”, and James soon joined them; frequent family dinners, picnics and celebrations kept them close. He remained in the area surrounding Pasadena for the rest of his life. He worked for Revlon for over 15 years. Always having had a desire to help others, in the 1980s he became a Licensed Vocational Nurse and worked in that occupation for several years before retiring in 1989. After retirement he volunteered at the Duarte Senior Center and kept fit at a local gym. Although he was in his late 80s at the time, when his sister Edna needed help after having cataract surgery he insisted on taking the Greyhound bus up to Northern California to come and care for her during her convalescence.

James always had an interest learning about new scientific and technological advances. He had one of the first home computers, and used the dot matrix printer to make quotation cards for customers at his one of his favorite dining establishments, the legendary Beadles Cafeteria in Pasadena. A gourmet cook in his earlier years, his reading led him to become an advocate of alternative and natural nutrition & medicine later in life. He freely shared his findings with his siblings, sending detailed letters with loving advice. He enjoyed hiking in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. He and his dear friend, Chet Moore enjoyed traveling to Mexico and visiting family and friends in Colorado and Wyoming. They were always good company & welcome guests, and usually came bearing wonderful gifts. He was also a spiritual seeker, converting to Catholicism at one point, and later studying Buddhism.

James was preceded in death by his brothers, John O. Kleine, Christian E. Kleine, sisters, Edna K. Moore, Helen M. Hamm and Mary A. Soden and his best friend Chester Moore. He is survived by nephews Norman Soden and John O. Kleine Jr., and nieces Judy Rolow, Marydee Hartsook, Dorothy Bartlett, Linda (Rose) Varnet, Mary Jo Woodmansee and Debbie Anderson, their families, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

One of James’ final wishes was to thank his grandnephews Joseph Graziano & William Barslund, as well as William’s wife Gretchen for all their care & support during his last years.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/west-covina-cremation for the KLEINE family.