Elmer "John" Klein Jr., 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, May 3, 2024, at Mercy Medical Center.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling Street SW.  Celebration of Life services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Brosh Chapel   Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted.

Elmer was born May 27, 1935, in Iowa City, the son of John Robert and Iona V. (Ward) Klein.  He served in the United States Army from 1953 -1956 during the Korean Conflict.  John was united in marriage to Kathy Hollingshead on May 2, 1992.  He worked at Quaker Oats for over 42.5 years retiring in 1995 as a Supervisor.  John was active with the Hanford American Legion Post 5 for many years, serving as Sergeant of Arms from 1995-2008.  He was a member of St. Mark's Methodist Church and the NRA.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and most of all spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren.

John is survived by his wife Kathy; children Jon (Sue) Klein, Lynn Schroth, Holly (Randy) Ouellette, Wendy Williams, Kim (Rob) Staub and Ty (Juli) Hansen; twenty-five grandchildren; thirty-six great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; his son-in-law Rick Barger; his sisters-in-law Betty Klein and Connie Klein; as well as his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Julie Barger, his brothers Delmar, George, Robert and Kenneth, an infant sister Hazel, and a son-in-law Dale Schroth.

Memorials may be directed to the family.