Carol Ann Klein

Carol Ann Klein was a kind, spirited woman who enjoyed life as if she could never get enough. A homebody yet on the go, hardworking yet eager to take time off, Carol delighted in being with her family. Dedicated and tireless, she spent herself for others and was the richer for it.

Carol Ann was born July 12, 1935 in Frontenac, Kansas and grew up in Livonia, Michigan. At the time, Americans were enduring economic turmoil at home and political unrest in Europe. Families found inspiration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats as they continued to make life meaningful amid the hardships.

Carol was the second oldest of four siblings—Donna, Fred and Sue—and one of twelve students in the first graduating class of Ladywood High School in Livonia. Industrious and energetic, Carol learned skills that served her well into adulthood. Once in her own home, she became a “Cleaning Machine” because the laundry machine was continually in use and she was forever ironing.

Working outside the home at the Shoe Store in a plaza next door to the fire station, Carol met the man she would eventually marry…twice. Richard Klein was a Fireman at Station #2 in Livonia, and every time Carol walked by the station he rang the bell. Such romance culminated in marriage and four children whom Carol and Richard adored. The kids were the reason their parents tried to make the marriage work. After marrying and divorcing and trying marriage again, the two concluded that they were better for each other and the kids without marriage. Indeed, after the second divorce, Carol and Richard managed a great relationship because of their love for their children.

In 1976, Carol moved her kids up north to Copemish, Michigan, where she ran a family farm complete with pigs, chickens, rabbits, ducks, a milking cow and more. What a perfect setting for Carol’s favorite holiday of the year—Thanksgiving. She absolutely loved cooking turkey and making her own stuffing and canned cranberries. In fact, she would be upset if someone else cooked and took away her fun.

As a family, Carol and the kids took their hard earned vacation time and headed north to Aloha State Park on Mullet Lake or to Proud Lake in southern Michigan. They loaded up the station wagon and the Apache Ramada Camper and set up camp for leisure and adventure.

Similarly, Carol packed up and moved several times, making 30 different addresses her home. She was the Change-of-Address Queen and the Greatest Renter in the World. Wherever she moved, she fixed up the place and then moved out again. Needless to say, landlords loved her, and she thrived on home improvement shows on television.

Generous and thoughtful, Carol was a friend to many. It was said of her that “if she could only afford to give you a dollar, she would find a way to give you two.” She will be sorely missed and dearly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Carol Ann Klein, age 77 of Livonia, Michigan, fought cancer for 8 months before passing away Thursday, November 8, 2012. Loving mother of Steven (Lisa), Kim (Marcel) Veenstra, Gary (Linda), and Kristi (Mike) Troy. Dearest grandmother of Richard, Stephanie, Stephen, Andrew, Evan, Jason, and Kaitlin. Visitation Saturday 11am until time of service at 1pm at the Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Rd (between Merriman and Middlebelt). www.neely-turowski.com