Richard J. "Sleepy" Klein Obituary (1934 - 2005)

Richard "Sleepy" Klein, 71, of Pana died Tuesday, December 27 at 10:25 p.m. in Pana Community Hospital. He was born February 11, 1934 in Pana, IL, the son of Celeste A. Ethelyn A. Galvin Klein. Born in Pana, he was a graduate of Danville Schlarman High School, Class of 1951 and attended University of Georgia and the University of Iowa. Sleepy served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He lived most of his life in Pana except when playing football. He played football in the NFL, AFL and the AFC, from 1958 to 1964 playing for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Boston Patriots, where he was selected All Pro, and also played for the Oakland Raiders. He owned operated his own business selling municipal industrial chemicals. He loved fishing and his family. Sleepy was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Pana Elks, was one of the founding members of the Pana Quarterback club where he was president for 4 years, NFL Alumni Players Association, Pana Sports Boosters, Rose City Hookers Bass Club, AmVets, and Christian County Board member for 20 years. He married Marian L. Wolf on February 14, 1956 in Corinth, Mississippi. Marian survives in Pana, IL along with their children: Terry Klein wife Charlene, Richard Klein Jr., Jeff Klein wife Denise, Carole Klein Adams, Suzie Littleton husband Chuck, and Jenny Spracklen, all of Pana, IL; 25 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; brothers: James Klein and Fritz Klein, Decatur, IL; Mike Klein, Plano, TX; and by his sister: Lynn Connor, Decatur, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jerry Klein, O.J. Klein, and Bill Klein. Funeral Information Funeral mass will be Saturday, December 31, 2005 in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Pana at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Don J. Roberts officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Pana with graveside military rites by VFW/AmVets/Amercian Legion, Pana. Visitation will be Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m. at McCracken-Dean Funeral Home with rosary at 5:00 p.m.