McKinley, Valerie Laura

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6566
• Obituary: 21 Dec 2011; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Valerie Laura Klein passed to the next life Sunday morning while surrounded by her loving family. Laura (as she was called) was born March 4th, 1928 and raised in Niagara, Wisconsin, the daughter of Raymond McKinley and Valerie Olive Outcelt, and sister to Raymond. At one point she wrote both for the local newspaper and had her own radio show "Date With the Ladies". She met Paul Klein, a young engineer at the local paper mill and they were married in 1948. Their marriage was an inspiration for over 60 years, 10 children, and several transcontinental moves, eventually settling in the Fox River Valley in a home they designed and built, mostly with their own hands. She returned to college the same year her youngest entered kindergarten. While balancing a busy family life, she completed her degree in teaching, and spent many years teaching English as a second language to the local Hmong and other immigrant communities. Her life would not have been as full without her many canine companions. She loved all of her dogs throughout her life, but was especially fond of her Samoyeds. Although Paul spent the latter half of his professional life as a deacon in the Catholic Church, all that knew them recognized that they were an inseparable team. She was a devoted, creative, loving, and diligent wife, mother, sister, teacher, and friend to many. Laura is survived by eight children; Lawrence, Mark (Ellen Davis),Thomas (Erin Moonlight), Charles (Susan Gigot-Klein), James (Michelle), Mary (David) Fochs, Andrew (Stephanie) and Gerard (Michelle), 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is further survived by a brother Ray (Lois) Outcelt and a brother-in-law John (Mary). Laura was preceded in death by her husband Paul, two children, Paula and Peter, a grandson Levi, a sister in-law Carlyne and a granddaughter's husband, Monte Trott. There is no way that we can remember and personally thank everyone who has been a support to us. We would like to acknowledge and thank the nurses and doctors at Affinity/St. Elizabeth's, especially Dr. Douglas Grant and his nurse Lynn who provided loving care for our family over the past 36 years, and Dr. Reidy, and Dr. Bannasch who provided such thoughtful care for our mother in her final days. We want to thank the diocese of Green Bay and deaconate community for their many years of great friendship and support to our mother. They have been blessed with many friends over the years. We would like to acknowledge Rosemary Cummings for her long friendship and fellow deacon and close friends Don Wetzel and his wife Joan and Rita Wessing. We have been blessed with a mother who possessed an apparently boundless well of love and compassion, a keen sense of social justice, and an occasionally outrageous sense of humor. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM Friday, December 23, 2011, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Visitations will be held at 5PM with a vigil at 7:30 PM on Thursday, December 22nd at Valley Funeral Home, visitation will continue on Friday at the church from 9 until the time of mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to either Madonna House Apostolate in Combermere, Ontario or Fox Valley Literacy Council.
Valley Funeral Home
2211 N. Richmond St.
Appleton (920)733-5435
www.valleyfh.com
"Serving as would be Served"
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on December 21, 2011

Valerie married Klein, Paul Joseph Abt 1948. Paul (son of Klein, Otto and Schloesser, Helen) was born 10 Feb 1924; died 5 Apr 2010. [Group Sheet]