Emil Alfred Kleiner, Sr.

Emil Alfred “Fred” Kleiner, Sr., aged 85, passed away at home peacefully and
surrounded by family on November 12, 2024.

Fred is survived by Linda Prather Kleiner, his wife of 57 years, and three daughters:
Sara Julian of Leesburg, VA, Kathryn Meredith (Chuck) of Middletown, DE and Emilie
Kleiner of Rising Sun, MD. He was preceded in death by his son, Emil Alfred
“Freddie” Kleiner, Jr., and his parents (E. A. Kleiner, Sr. and Rachel Lagesse Kleiner of
Adams, MA). Fred also leaves behind two loving grandsons, Jacob and Matthew
Meredith of Middletown, DE. He is also survived by his sister Sandra Kleiner
Underwood of Adams, MA, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-
nephews, and great-great nephews.

Fred was always a thinker. As a little boy, he wondered about potions and
chemistry. His parents fostered this interest, gifting him chemistry sets, a little too
much freedom, and merely a raised brow at his explosive mishaps. His chemical
curiosity fueled his pursuit of a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering at the
University of Massachusetts. He later became a Chemical Engineer for DuPont,
where he worked for almost 50 years and retired as a Senior Project Engineer. His
projects included plants in Deer Park, Texas, and Asturias, Spain, and others in
Buffalo, New York, Japan, and Belgium. Fred was part of an award-winning team and
he received several awards for Excellence in Engineering.

After college, Fred served three years in the Army and was recognized for his
sharpshooter skills. A deep patriotism arose through serving his country, and he
passed that love to his children. Every year, he read the Preamble to the Declaration
of Independence aloud to the family on Independence Day. He wove his passions for
patriotism and chemistry together by teaching his children about the elements that
make each beautiful color in fireworks displays. Red is strontium! Barium is green!

 

A man’s nature impacts his world. Sometimes the quietest man creates the biggest
ripple by what he does rather than what he says. Fred led with quiet strength fueled
by the love he had for his family. He adored and cherished his wife, Linda, and
everything they did together was in partnership, with thoughtful consideration and
shared purpose. A man of patience, Fred was his children’s first teacher. Each one
sat on his lap and learned to read. His children also sat on his lap while HE read
every day, whether it was the newspaper or large tomes of a political or historical
nature. As Fred’s children grew older, they watched a hardworking man turn the
wheels at work, then come home and turn the soil in his garden. Fred grew food for
his family and propped his children up on watermelons and cantaloupes for rare
moments of pride to photograph what he was growing—the produce and his
children. His lifetime haircut was styled exactly how he cut his lawn, the perfect flat
top. This beautiful lawn, lush and green, was a playground and a ballfield. His
children have so many barefoot memories learning to throw, pitch, and catch. He

taught a love of the outdoors, whether holding a fishing rod, hunting for
mushrooms, or crouching with a camera, waiting for the ultimate bird shot. His
loves became what his children loved.

When Fred was on vacation, his quiet and contemplative nature took a back seat to
his wild and adventurous side, which showed up in a love of roller coasters, riding
the waves at Ocean City, and go kart racing…even into his sixties! Fred had superb
taste in music and had definite flair for rock and roll, spanning from 50s and 60s
artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard to Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.
Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” was a true favorite. He did a great Mick Jagger
impression and thoroughly enjoyed karaoke. He had a spreadsheet for everything,
was a lifelong Celtics fan, and loved German beer and a good cigar.

Undoubtedly, Fred’s greatest display of quiet strength was his battle with Multiple
System Atrophy. He was a fighter with an undefeated spirit. We watched for years as
he researched and adapted to each challenge and never complained. He was never
bedridden and was always up for doing the hard things that kept it that way. Every
week, he and his trainer Jeff worked, sometimes twice a week, to recover or
maintain his physical abilities and to talk sports. We watched you, Dad. You inspired
us to overcome any challenge. We celebrate a devoted husband, father, and
grandfather who quietly led our family and left a rich legacy for all of us. We imagine
a sweet reunion in heaven between Fred and his son, Freddie, and other loved ones
who passed before.

The family will hold a private celebration of Fred’s life at a later date. If you feel led
to honor his memory, please consider a donation to U.S. Disaster Relief at
Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org, (a cause that Fred supported for
many years) or donate to your local food pantry to provide meals for families in
need for the holidays. Fred supported Ray of Hope Mission Center in Port Deposit,
Maryland: www.rayofhopemissioncenter.com. If you choose to make a donation please ask that the family is notified so that they may thank you for your kind gesture. 

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