Called “the Jewish Santa Claus” by President Jimmy Carter, Marvin Klein spent his life looking out for others.
“He always gave of himself,” said daughter Sherry (Gerald) Friebert of Glendale, “without ever wanting any acknowledgment. One of our relatives wrote to President Carter about my dad’s activities and, surprisingly, he wrote a lovely letter to him.”
Klein, who resided in Brown Deer, died March 3 at the age of 87.
He was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from North Division High School.
“He was the classic bartender who developed relationships with his patrons. He worked at a tavern near Mt. Mary College and got to know the students so well that many came to his funeral, some with their children, more than 30 years later. It was quite a tribute,” Friebert said.
She added, “My brothers and I know he supported Mt. Mary, looked after the elderly nuns at Sacred Heart, and hung bags of produce on his neighbors’ door knobs at his condominium complex. But there is a lot we don’t know. I’m sad, now, that we don’t know more about the good things he did to pass along to our children and grandchildren.”
He was a lifelong member of Harmony Masonic Lodge.
He is further survived by sons Bruce (Patricia) Klein of West Allis and Larry (Nancy) Klein of Los Angeles; brothers Bernard (Geri) Klein and Harold Klein; sister Anne Lumel; three granddaughters; and three great-grandsons. His wife, Hilda Klein, died in 2000.
Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at the funeral on March 6. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery.
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