Dad,
It has been three years since you passed. I think of you every day. We all miss you but your legacy and love lives on in our hearts.  Your class and grace defined you. You always saw the best in everyone you touch and you made the world a better place.  Elizabeth, Emma and Brigid talk about you often and it brings light to my life.  Love you, Phil

Loveboat,
It’s been three years - hard to comprehend. We are all getting on with our lives, but you are always in our thoughts and we are grateful for the days and years we had with you. We are celebrating you especially today with Burl Ives and Puccini and chocolate malts, pizza, and lots of pictures! 
Love you forever,
Loveboat

I can hardly believe it has been 3 years. Still missed and grieving but healing too Dad. I think of you every day when I see butterflies or a full moon. “I see the Moon and you!” I love you Dad. ❤️

A few days ago, my son proudly showcased his first 'written and directed' short film at a (well-attended) public screening in NYC. Among the list of contributors was 'Fred and Maria Klein'. I could not have been more proud, appreciative, and nostalgic. Fred lives on in so many ways and, from the Elbehri experience, always with love and encouragement. Thank you, Fred. Thank you, Maria.

Dad…you were the most loving, empathetic, kind, loving, adoring father/dad of your kids. We miss you beyond words and we thank you for all your devoted time, attention and unconditional love… ❤️❤️❌⭕️ Mia #3❣️

Happy Birthday, Loveboat!
I think of you every day and miss you as much as ever. I celebrate you today and thank you for the gift of your love and friendship.
Forever your
Loveboat

Another year has gone by. The legacy of love, singing, laughter, happiness and bringing out the best in everyone you touched lives on.  We all feel the void and always will but we try to live as you did - a life full of love. 

Loveboat,
It's odd to think that two years have gone by since you left us. It's disorienting - long and short, near and remote, sad and happy...We are doing better now, getting on with our lives as we must and as you would expect us to. And in so many ways, you haven't really left us: We think of you every day. We look at pictures of you and remember the stories that go with them. You are with us in our hearts and minds, in our relationships, in our character and values, in the relationships we hold dear, in the choices we make, and in the love we share with one another.
Nonetheless, we miss you mightily and love you always.
Forever your
Loveboat

Missing you Dad each and every day. Your gentle hug, consoling and comforting words, and your constant love and presence. Forever missed and in our hearts. Your Mia (miaow)

To our special "Danny Boy" on his second heavenly birthday. Rest in eternal peace knowing that you are loved forever. Love Oonagh, Roy and all in the U.K.

I miss and think about you every day. I miss seeing your smile. I miss hearing you sing. I miss your love. Such class and grace. You made everyone around you better and our wonderful memories will live on forever. I know you are looking down from Heaven and healthy and happy -playing ball and tennis and singing with the angels.  You made the World a better place. Love you Phil

Dear Fred,
Thinking of you and missing you! Thank you for bringing so much joy to our family. 

Missing you so much Dad but know you are looking down, or flying around in a butterfly watching us! As the website says, forever missed and forever in our hearts. Thank you for loving and supporting us all so much. May your grace continue in each of us. Mia

Dearest Loveboat,
“Your birthday as my own to me is dear, for mine did but lend me to the world, whereas yours gave to me a friend.”
Thinking of you - and missing you - today and every day.
I love you forever,
Loveboat
October 3, 2022

Fred, playing your favourite song "Oh Danny Boy". I am sure I could hear you joining in.
Good night and God bless.
Oonagh xx

Fred, I still can’t believe you’re gone. You are greatly missed and will live on in our hearts forever. I hope you & Jack are hanging out together, sharing songs and stories.  Love you! Rachel

Dear Fred. So many wonderful memories of you. Thank you for your friendship. A gift.

Fred and I were best buddies growing up. We shared so many common interests with each other. We played softball ( Bluejays), had scrap books (WW2),listened to his Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio, and planning our sailing trip around the world, with charts spread open on the floor, no less. It didn’t happen, but the fun we had was thinking about it. It seems like it all happened just yesterday. Many good memories. I’ll miss him. He’ll always be with me.

I am pretty sure if you look up perfect father in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Fred Klein. He possessed such a lovely and kind face and his nature matched his looks. Mia is my dear friend and her love and devotion for and to her dad illustrates the loving impact he had on the lives of his family. I wish I could have spent more time with this charming, delightful gentleman. I thank God his family and friends were lucky enough to enjoy him for so many years. Rest is peace Fred!

Klein Family, I am so lucky to have had the chance to meet Fred when I was just a high school 9th grader. Both Fred and Maria came into my life after Mia married my Dad, Mark. Fred was immediately a step grandfather and he took it in stride. I have several memories of Fred, but one stands out the most. While Fred and Maria came out to Santa Barbara for my College graduation we hit State Street late night and found our way into a few bars. Fred could party! Needless to say, we all woke up the next morning a little foggy. It was such a great time! I All the speeches, toasts and cards Fred has shared have been amazing and I am so thankful to have had the chance to spend time with him.  Just remember "no lumps"! I know he will be missed but never forgotten. I love you Fred!

Mia, Maria, Amalia, Paul & Phil-

I am so very sorry for your loss. Fred was the most special man. His smile filled the room. He loved his family more than anything in the world. My fondest memory of Fred was the speech he delivered at our rehearsal dinner. Fred always wrote the most personal and thoughtful toasts/and speeches.  Our wedding toast ended highlighting marriage is like making mash potatoes- and he always wished for "no lumps." Fred you have no lumps in that beautiful place called heaven. I will miss you so much!


XOXOXOXO
Courtney

My dad Miles Klein treasured his late-in-life rediscovery of his relationship with Fred, as they exchanged handwritten letters, pages and pages (and pages!). He looked forward to receiving each one and spent so much time and care writing his own. I'm so glad these cousins reconnected, and it was a pleasure for me to meet Fred who surprisingly turned out to be practically a neighbor (considering our mutual New York origins). Erica Klein eklein@yahoo.com

Fred was always such a joy to be around! As little kids he sang to us, played in the pool with us, and drove us all over town to get ice cream, and he chauffeured us to Phil’s baseball games (as we were Phils teams ACTUAL cheerleaders) in his super cool red? Convertible! We sat up on the seats and we’d sing to the worlds stage! I also loved his spaghetti and meatball dinners! If memory serves that was his usual Friday night dinner for the family (and me) as his additional daughter! He also took us to the Lincoln Del where he introduced me to the infamous Matzo Ball Soup! He always had his huge smile on, and talked to us so we KNEW we were important, and important to him! What a kind hearted loving person. I am so blessed to have known him ALL of my life. I am a better person for it. The last couple of years I saw a lot more of Fred as we’d go to lunch together with my dad, as they’ve been friends as long as I’ve known Mia! (They’re the same age). Fred told stories about the “olden days”, like baseball, Opera, New York and his love of his children, grandchildren, and his wonderful wife Maria! I miss him dearly. Luckily I have such beautiful memories to savor. Xoxox Sandra Lantto Wakefield

My Poppa

Poppa was the best grandfather!  I loved him very much!  I was his first grandchild. XXXOOO, Elizabeth

5605 Grove Street Gang -
Early and sweet memories of your father. The dad who would sing while pouring our breakfast cereal into bowls each morning of a sleepover; after “night games” and before jumping into your pool. 

Loved his storytelling of how NYC has the “biggest, reddist, and juiciest, apples IN THE WORLD!”. Our subsequent promise to travel there for the experience. I have, and he is correct.

His love of Paul, Phil, and Mia, were of laughter and love.

Your dad would sing while driving the twisted Tracy Avenue on our outing to “the sand cliff” at the Minnesota River. While my father said “you can do it”, your father said “Try it!”. While similar in intention; different in delivery, both of value.

Laughter and love,
Kathryn Lantto Fadness

I have known Fred since I was 4 years old when he and his family moved in next door to our home in Edina. His son Phil has been my life long best friend. Fred has always been a second dad to me. I remember all his encouraging words, teaching us the game of baseball, and throwing high pop ups for us to practice catching. In fact, one year he actually chalked the makeshift baseball diamond and batters box in their backyard before we played a game. I also remember going to watch him play softball on the Honeywell team. I will always cherish very fond memories of him as I remember the twinkle in his eye, his hearty laugh and his pat on the butt to encourage us. - Dale

Fred was one of the rare folks that one remembers meeting for the first time. When he walked in for his initial Minneapolis Arts Commission meeting in ’84 he had an expectant smile and carried an easy sophistication. Cultural initiatives endure that we worked on with the MAC two generations ago. I was pleased to learn that he was married to Maria who I knew from our days at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. I have happy memories of a party or two on 2nd Avenue that this charming couple threw for commissioners. 

Sharing friends’ enthusiasms is wonderful. Fred liked baseball – importantly, he understood the sport and we shared insights. Knowing that he had been in their organization, I fessed up one day, telling him I don’t like the Yankees. His response delighted me, neither did he! Not long after we met he gave me a couple extra Twins tickets. Years later we sat under a scorching Sun watching a Gophers game, having the same opinion about metal bats. A couple times recently, he and Maria joined Mary and me on drives to Dundas to watch the Dukes play town ball.

Baseball wasn’t our only shared interest. The arts and supporting the arts; joy in friendships; a ready sense of humor; meals with friends, and a willingness to share affection… these we valued in one another.

Fred’s kindness deepened our connection. I always will remember his calls as I recuperated from major surgery, my future not certain. Each chat was a lifeline. 

The words of the baseball writer – and keen Dodgers fan - Roger Kahn may fit as we mourn the loss of Fred’s physical presence:

“…the world is never again as it was before anyone you love has ever died; never so innocent, never so fixed, never so gentle, never so pliant to your will. But these are afterthoughts. Generations vie and the young recover swiftly, or believe they do.”

Fred touched all the bases. 

What a wonderful fellow Fred was. A contagious laugh and sense of humor.

I first met him at Honeywell where we both worked ; as the art director he and I worked together regularly. 

Somehow stories between us about sports and things athletic came up and we started playing tennis after work on the cement courts of Powderhorn.

That was the real beginning of our friendship. We met Reg and Alan on those same courts and a glorious social network was formed.

Fred encouraged my move to NYC and my artistic pursuits. Years later he invited me to have a show of my work at the Honeywell corporate headquarters.

Dinners, cigars,cocktails,tennis,laughter,all!
One special man!

So very glad to have had Fred as a friend.

Dear Maria, Amalia, Mia, Paul & Phil. I was really saddened to hear of Fred's passing. Honestly, I had been thinking about him recently. He was my boss at Honeywell for 5 years. Lucky me! I had never met anyone like him. I remember him breaking into song frequently while breezing through the department. And, he was head over heels in love with Maria, that was clear! He was so creative and joyous. I am so very sorry for your loss, Fred was quite a guy and I am fortunate to have crossed paths with him on this earth. Much Love and support to you all.

Dear Mia, Phil and Paul,

We are so sorry for your loss and pray all of you during this time of remembrance. I have such great memories of our times together, your family and of course Fred who created such fond memories for me from my younger days. Blessed be to you all.

Brad and Pat

For the last 30 years, one of my favorite St. Patrick's Day traditions has been listening to my dear father-in-law Fred sing When Irish Eyes are Smiling to me.  Sadly Fred passed away last month. He was a wonderful man - kind and generous of spirit.  Today, I will miss receiving that call. Fortunately, when he visited us three years ago on St. Patrick's Day, we recorded him singing a wonderful version of Danny Boy. His memory is truly a blessing and will live on in my heart.

Loveboat,
March 15, 1975-March 15, 2021 - Happy #46!
Thank you for your gift of love.
Yours forever,
Loveboat

We have only known Fred for just over 10 years but during this time we have found him to be a most welcoming and supportive man and a great wordsmith with many talents.
He will always be greatly missed from this side of the Atlantic by Roy and Oonagh (Stott) and family.

Maria, I am so sorry to learn of Fred's passing. My deepest condolences to you and the other members of the family.

There are so many good things to say about Fred! So, I will not attempt to enumerate them. However, I will say that during our years together at Honeywell, he was one a very few who continually demonstrated the willingness to "speak truth to power", and use the power and privilege of his corporate position to do good for others. He was a wonderful man, and a good friend and mentor to me.

Dear Mia, Paul. & Phil,
So sorry for your loss. While it has been years since I’ve been in touch, I have many fond memories of Fred from my youth. Always thought about him. One of my favorite uncles.
Bless all of you
CJ

Dear Mia, Maria, Amalia, Phil, Paul and Family-
Charlie and I were saddened to hear of dear Fred's passing. We are all going to miss him so much....He was such a wonderful man and I really enjoyed being in his presence. His love for his family was obvious to all those around him. Mia and I were fortune enough to have had Fred and Phil as our softball coaches. What a treat that was! Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this sad and difficult time. We hope that as time passes, your sadness will dissipate and the wonderful memories of Fred's life will continue to come to the forefront. Much love- Laurie and Charlie XOX

My dad passed away at 11:11 pm on February 27th with family at his bedside and with him in his final week on this Earth.  He was a wonderful human being and loving father, father-in-law and poppa. He was the best man at Brigid and my wedding and was always there for me and all of his family. We had many wonderful trips and memories. Hopefully some day I will be able to move away from the pain and focus on those memories. The memorial talks about him being an outstanding athlete, gorgeous voice, great sense of humor, artist and advertising director, and many other attributes, but most important was he was such an amazing, classy and nice person. He never spoke a negative word and always found the best in people.  He taught me about civil rights at an early age and treating people the way you want to be treated. He taught me not to follow the crowd but be a leader. He taught all his kids and grandkids what love is all about and he loved Maria as his soulmate. I will never be the same without him.

Dear Mia, We are sending our heartfelt condolences to you and your family! What a loving tribute you left for your dad, thank you for sharing! We hope you gain strength and comfort in all those loving memories.
With love, Bettina and Will

I lost a dear friend, Fred Klein, whom I met through Amanda and Maria since 1990. We stayed friends ever since. Maria and Fred came to our wedding, our leaving Minnesota party, and were the first friends to visit us after Amanda gave birth to our firstborn Nabil. Our trip to Gettysburg with the three months old Nabil is now memorable. And the many meetings in Washington during their visits from Minnesota. After we moved out of Minnesota, and every time was back, our visit to Minnesota was never complete without a reunion with the Klein’s. It became a must and rite of passage. One summer, during a visit, we watched a World Cup soccer game which I knew Fred was not too enthusiastic about a game with too few scores! But we had a good time, and it is just a good memory. I had a deep respect for Fred and felt the feeling was reciprocal. I was always touched by Fred when he often referred to me as my friend. We have many good memories with Maria and Fred, and I am happy Nabil, and Youssef grew up knowing and visiting with the Kleins often and over many years. I miss Fred. But I know he is in a peaceful place.
We look forward to our next visit to Minnesota and a new reunion with Maria.

What a beautiful tribute to Fred. My deepest condolences go out to the Klein family for the loss of a wonderful man. I had the privilege of knowing Fred for almost 45 years. What stands out to me the most is his love for his family. I know his legacy will live on for decades through his loving wife, children, grandchildren and everyone who had the privilege to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Fred will be deeply missed and loved forever by all whose lives were touched by him. I feel blessed to have so many memories of the extra special friendship between the Schwabs and the Kleins.
Much love,
Annie and Family

What can be said about a person who loved to live and laugh as much as Fred? I don’t remember ever hearing him say a negative thing about anyone, except maybe for any team playing against his Twins! And then again, maybe on those occasions when his Twins weren’t playing their very best ball!
And what better times than to watch him write one of his famous cards—or even better, to be on the receiving end of one of those cards!!
He was just a rare character who always showed such class whether it was telling one of his famous stories, a joke or giving a toast. He will be sorely missed especially at those times when a good story, joke or a special toast is needed.

Mia, no one can prepare for the loss of a loved one, especially one who has contributed so much to your life.  
What you have now are the magical memory moments you have shared together, and they will never diminish, they will only become stronger.  
The legacy your father created is now yours to share with your family and friends.  
He has given you stories and life lessons, which will continue to help you grow.  
Rejoice every time you are able to share the memories and stories of such a wonderful father.


Your friends sharing our deepest sympathy, Michael & Nancy

Maria, Paul, Phil, Mia, Amalia, spouses, grandchildren and extended family of Fred. My heart aches with the loss of such an amazing man. My love to all of you.

I posted a story. I am lucky to have many more memories of Fred. Josie and Phil loved him.

❤️❤️❤️