Russell Reno “Rabbit” Klein, 76, died on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at the Denison Care Center. He was born on Aug. 9, 1948, in Dunlap, to parents Harold Martin and Geralda Susan (Wingert) Klein. He attended school in Dunlap and graduated from there in 1967. Russ started working at IBP and then enlisted in the US Navy. While in the Navy he was stationed in Pensacola, Fla., where he refueled jets coming into the ship. After his honorable discharge, Russ went back to work at IBP and worked there for 26 years. Russ then worked at Denison Drywall & Supply for 19 years. Russ did not stay retired for very long; he was asked to make deliveries for Arnold Motor Supply and he worked for them for the last 10 years. Russ married his high school sweetheart Joyce Melby Miller on Dec. 30, 1978, and he added two sons, Michael and Mark Miller to the family.
Fishing and ice fishing with his boys became a passion of Russ’. They entered many ice fishing tournaments throughout Iowa and also loved fishing in the local farm ponds. Russ’s other passion was fast and loud cars. Joyce and Russ traveled many miles in their ‘32 Ford Street Rod going to the mountains of Colorado, Arkansas and many car shows through out the Midwest. They received many trophies with their car and one trophy was bigger than the car!!
Russ is preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark Miller; two sisters, Grace Klein and Gladys Weis; sister-in-law, Gay Melby; and nephew, Mark Bissen. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Klein of Denison; son, Michael Miller and his wife Jill of Denison; two grandsons, Gage Miller and his fiancée Kayla of Schleswig and Gavin Miller of Sheldon; four siblings, Alma (Kenny) Bissen of Lebanon, Tenn., Harold Jr. “Sonny” (Rose) Klein of Omaha, Neb., his twin brother, Ronald (Barbara) Klein of Colchester, Vt., and JoAnn (Jim) Gray of Dunlap; brothers-in-law, Joe Weis of Norfolk, Neb., Clarion Melby of Dow City and Randy (Dorothy) Melby of Dunlap and many other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church in Dunlap. Damon Hopkins presided over the service. The recorded musical selections were “I Want to Stroll Over Heaven with You” by Alan Jackson, “Lead Me Home” by Jamey Johnson and “My Old Man” by Zack Brown. The pallbearers were Justin Gray, Chris Melby, Dan Melby, Tim Klein, Todd Klein and Larry Weis. Military Graveside Rites were performed by the Dunlap American Legion Post #224. Russ’s final resting place is at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
