Harold Kleinhans

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - December 6, 2013 - Harold Raymond Kleinhans passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Son, Brother, Husband, Father, Grand and Great-Grandfather, Co-worker, Neighbor, and Friend, Harold was everyone's "go-to" guy, and will be missed by everyone that knew him. Harold was born July 29, 1920 in Selkirk, NY, the second son of Raymond Kleinhans and Ethyl Becker. He graduated from Bethlehem Central High School and Albany Business College before joining the Albany Felt Company as a time-study clerk. With the US entry into World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps., and was stationed in Atlantic City, NJ, where he was promoted to Sargent. He was later assigned to Santa Anna, CA as an Aviation Cadet, and was attending Pilot / Bombardier training in Hobbs, NM, when the war ended. While home on leave between assignments, he married his sweetheart, Marion D. Halford of Albany, who joined him in New Mexico shortly thereafter. After the war, he returned to the Albany Felt Company, where he enjoyed an interesting career in Industrial Engineering and Product Quality. He and Marion raised their three children in the home he hand built in Delmar. In 1966 they moved to Clifton Park, NY, where they lived until his retirement in 1978. Tired of cold weather and looking to fulfill a dream, they moved to their new "home in the sunshine" in Daytona Beach, FL to start retirement. But Hal, as he was now called, could never really just "stand still and smell the roses". He busied himself with his own construction projects and, utilizing his many skills, was the first to pitch in and help others with their projects. He was a longtime caregiver and companion for his now deceased neighbor and friend, Anne Hesse. He was so loved and respected by his friends, he became the unofficial "Mayor of Emilia Drive". Harold was predeceased by Marion, his wife of 44 years in 1989, and by both of his brothers, Kenneth and Floyd. He is survived by his children, James Kleinhans of Ballston Lake, NY and his wife Kathleen, Cheryl Malone of Daytona Beach, FL, and Robert Kleinhans of Tucson, AZ, as well as six grandchildren (Greg, Kim, Mike, Jason, Jennifer & Tera, four great-grandchildren (Sydney, Ryan, Brandi, Alexandria), his sister-in-law, Elaine Thornton VanUllen, and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to call Monday, December 16 at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar, between 4 and 7 PM. A funeral service will follow at 7 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, December 17 at Elmwood Cemetery in Selkirk. A memorial service will be held in his beloved Daytona Beach in the near future. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Vitas Hospice 2381 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach FL 32117 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY 12205.