Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

Kenneth Eugene Klaus, 88, of Gillespie, Ill., died at Carlinville Rehab Center in Carlinville on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. He was born Feb. 20, 1933, in Womac to Otto and Clara (Bouillon) Klaus. He married Jacquelyn Fuess on June 10, 1972, and she survives.

Kenny was a graduate of Carlinville High School class of 1950. He was in the U.S. Army serving during the Korean War from January 1952 until December 1953. While Kenny was in the military he served as a cryptographer having the distinction of being the soldier who sent the first top secret message that the Peace Treaty had been signed signaling an end to the Korean War. Kenny received an Associates Degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in 1956. He worked as a manager at Carlinville Grain, Greenfield Pellett Plant, Prairie Farms Milk Route, and was an insurance and real estate agent. Kenny enjoyed his family, gardening, crossword puzzles, the Illini and the St. Louis Cardinals. His memberships were the Gillespie Methodist Church, Carlinville Elks Lodge where he had been a member for 66 years and served as Past Exalted Ruler as well as many years at local, district and state levels.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie Klaus of Gillespie; three daughters, Patty (Al) Audo of Chillicothe, Sydney (Bill) Stolte of Edwardsville, Veronica Klaus of Sharon Springs, N.Y .; two sons, Barry (Terri) Klaus of Decatur, Texas, Jack (Susan) Crane of Ballwin, Mo .; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Eileen Morehead of Greenville, S.C .; and numerous nieces and nephews. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Stanley Klaus and Ray Klaus; and two sisters, Velma Arter and Lucille Ballinger.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 1 at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie. Burial was at Gillespie Cemetery in Gillespie.

Memorials are suggested to Gillespie Benld Area Ambulance Service, Gillespie Cemetery or the Gillespie Public Library. Condolences may be left online at http://www.kravanyafuneral.com.