Donald Klein

Donald J. Klein, Jr., 45, of Lakeshore, lost his courageous battle to cancer on July 22, 2010. Don passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, July 26, 2010 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Steve LaFlamme officiating. Friends are welcome to gather Sunday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Interment will take place at the Calvary Cemetery in Morris, MN at approximately 4:00 PM.

Don was born July 3, 1965 in Morris, MN, the son of Donald and Vi (Rauch) Klein. He graduated with a degree in engineering from the University of Minnesota and interned for the City of Chanhassen. During his career, Don was a civil engineer for the city of Brainerd and later spent two years as the Director of Public Works for the city of Staples. He was an avid motorcyclist, and enjoyed road trips on his Harley. One of Don's passions was surfing the net in search of salvage vehicles that he could repair. He and his wife, Ann were in the process of building their dream home on Gull Lake. Don also enjoyed NASCAR, travel, snowmobiling, and goose hunting.

Don will always be remembered for his devotion to his family and his great sense of humor.

He will be missed by his wife, Ann; his son, Cole Stegora; his parents, Donald and Vi; his sisters, Jennifer (Larry) Bachmeier and Jill (Neal) Lesmeister; 13 nephews; two nieces; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lonny and Diane Thiery; his brothers-in-law, Sean Thiery and Marc (Lisa) Thiery; and many great friends and co-workers. He was preceded in death by his brother, James; his grandparents, Leo and Ida Klein and Peter and Marcella Rauch; and his sister-in-law, Corilynn Babineau. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter