The Kleiber Family Timeline

Category: Cemetery/Funeral

Funerals, Cemetaries, and Graves

  • 2023 Maintaining the Family Graves

    We made a visit to Michigan Memorial to check on the graves. Grandma Judith had just been placed in her tomb and it can be seen when facing the “Graf” family graves. It is the first structure you see but her tomb is on the other side that you see (facing away). The graves looked fine for the most part and Aunt Peg’s picture on her grave still looks good. We did have to clear some growth from Uncle Raymond’s grave and if it continues we may have to ask them to raise it again.

    You may notice a section of the wall has been removed, this was supposed to be for a stations of the cross section but they ran into some issues so for right now it is incomplete.

    Michigan Memorial is still the prettiest cemetery that we have seen, although we have not seen all that many. The pond as you enter the facility is still the centerpiece and right across from the eternal flame memorial for the military.
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  • 2023 Grandma Interred at Michigan Memorial Cemetery

    James’ Grandma (Judith Landis Lantz) was interred this day at Michigan Memorial Cemetery in Flat Rock Michigan. She is in a crypt about 50 yards from James’ other Grandparents who are buried along the wall in that area.

    Judith was buried with her dolls, some of which she has had all her life, and James, Mom, and Olga (a friend of Grandma) laid out the dolls and other treasures of her in her crypt.

    Judith died two weeks ago, she had made arrangements with the Neptune society for cremation upon her death which took about a week to complete. Michigan Memorial requires 72 hours notice so that took a few more days which is why it took two weeks to have her interred. Her friends Olga, Alice, and Dorothy were also present.

    Afterwards we all went out to lunch together, it was a very pleasant time for everyone under the circumstances.
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  • Memorial Day 2020

    We are still under the covid restrictions so we decided to visit Our Lady of Hope cemetery on Allen Road and visit Uncle Don, Aunt Mary Ann, and Cousin Mike. We attended all their funerals but never really visited them the same way we annually visit Michigan Memorial.

    We requested a map with directions from the cemetery earlier in the year and the info they sent was good enough to get us in the ball park to find the graves. We took gps coordinates in case anyone else wants to visit, that way you should be able to get within about ten feet of the graves.

    We did do a take out for food at Bone Yard so while we could not eat out, we ate the same food but had to eat in as the restaurants are not yet open.

    Without a doubt this has been the strangest year. James school just sent out his final grades so he made the honor roll, or virtual honor roll, or whatever you call school now. James also passed his drivers ed class which was delayed for several months, however he cannot get his license till September because that is the earliest we could get an appointment for him. (more…)

  • Pegs Marker in Place 2019

    Pegs marker is finally in place, as its been almost a month since it came in, but I guess things move slowly at the cemetery. Pegs marker is the first one at least in this area that includes a picture, big thanks to cousins Ron and Renee who contributed the extra funds to make that picture possible. Our goal was to get the marker in place by Labor Day so that if the family wants to get together to view the marker we can.

    I guess this officially closes the book on Aunt Pegs Funeral as everything has been taken care of that I know of. I think she would be happy with the arrangements made for her. Her marker is the closest to her mother Loretta which is something I know she would approve of.

  • Mothers Day 2019

    Mothers day started off the same way as others, with a picture of James and his Mom in front of the house. We picked up some flowers at Kroger on the way to the cemetery, the weather fighting back rain constantly throughout the day made for a windy day with little annoying drops of water from time to time. However we did manage to get the flowers out. We did take pics of all the graves with flowers so mission accomplished despite the poor weather.

    Next was the antique store in Flint, which had added an airplane with skeletons to their display, and only at a cost of 2,500 you too can have a crashed airplane in your living room.

    Next stop was a visit to Grandma’s as today was James visits Grandma day. After dropping James off, Mom went to a couple more antique stores before we finally stopped in for Mothers Day dinner.

    A great Mothers day despite the weather.

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  • Michigan Memorial Maps and Photos 2019

    Today we took a day off from work and went to Michigan Memorial to finalize Pegs grave marker. Shown on the left is a preview of what to expect, it should be finished in 8 weeks and we are hoping everyone can get together around labor day for a little reunion.

    People may have noticed that part of the wall near where Peg was buried is being removed, this is to make room for a stations of the cross monument where all the stations will be honored. It should be completed in 5 years so there will still be a landmark to find these graves for us.

    We did travel to the 3 grave sites that we are most familiar with and had Michigan Memorial create maps on how to get to these areas. Each is identified by a block number which makes it easy to find the location on the main map (included with each block pdf). two secondary maps are also included in the pdf which show the exact location of the graves in the block. Please note if you see green in the one map that means that plots are available to buy. We will do these in order.

    Block 6 We Call The Kleiber Plots – This has James Great Grandma Kleiber, James Great Grandma Kleiber, and James Great Uncle Raymond Kleiber who died in WW2 and was the first in the family buried at Michigan Memorial Cemetery. This is located near the first entrance to the cemetery from Huron River Drive, not the main entrance. When you come in through the entrance look for a bench on the right, the graves are about ten yards to the right (north) of that bench. You can find maps to block 6 in the link below –

    Block 6 Kleiber Plot Maps

    also there are pictures in the gallery below to help.

    Block 24 We Call The Graf Plots – This is the largest block of relatives with 12 plots owned by the family and 9 currently used. James Grandma and Grandpa Kleiber, Great Uncle Joe, Great Aunt Louise and her Husband Harry, Great Grandmother Graf, Great Grandfather Graf, Cousin Mark, and most recently Aunt Peg. To find this simply stay right when you enter the main entrance until you see the long brick wall (or crucifix island). FYI, the wall is being turned into a Stations of the Cross monument and should be complete in 5 years. You can find maps to block 24 in the link below –

    Block 24 Graf Plot Maps.

    Block 29 We Call The Kelly Plot – This is where Natalies husband and child lay in rest. If you are going there from “the wall” veer to the left at the fork and go straight till you see a hill on the right. A landmark is a small building with a street next to it which can be seen in the gallery below. You can find maps to block 29 in the link below –

    Block 29 Kelly Plot Maps

    This Kelly grave was the hardest of the three to find for us so I used my phone to get gps coordinates for the grave, they are below. (we will try it out for accuracy next visit which should be Moms Day, weather permitting)

    Latitude (LAT): 42.117504
    N 42°7’3.01368″
    Longitude (LONG): -83.349019
    W 83°20’56.46804″

    also there are pictures in the gallery below to help.

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  • Michigan Memorial Graves 2019

    It seems like we just left Michigan Memorial after watching Peg being buried, but we felt that we had to go back because we wanted to check on the temporary marker that was purchased a few days earlier.

    It was there so we felt good about that, but then realized we should have brought some of the flowers from the funeral home to the graveyard to place on the graves. Oh well, they will have to wait till Mothers day and Memorial day, but it will be extra sad this year because now Peg is out here. She used to be the one who really maintained the graves but now I guess that has been passed on to James and us.

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  • Remembering Peg Turowski 1946-2019

    Here is a link to Pegs Memorial Page at Howe Peterson Funeral

    Margaret A. (Peg) Turowski age 72 of Melvindale went to be with our Lord on Saturday, March 30, 2019. Margaret was born the daughter of Charles and Loretta Kleiber in Wyandotte, Michigan. Margaret leaves behind her sister Criss (husband Kenny), a brother Charles (wife Mary, son James), her long time companion of 38 years Richard Rice, and many cousins.

    Margaret graduated Lowery High School in the “Class of 65” and went on to Henry Ford College to further her education. Margaret was trained as a computer key punch operator and worked with computers long before most of us ever heard of Windows, converting written data into something the computers could process.

    Margaret enjoyed traveling especially to tropical climates. Hawaii, Bahamas, Florida, California, etc. were all places she enjoyed. She loved Disneyland and Disney World, her favorite live musical was “Phantom of the Opera”, and probably her favorite place on earth was the Hudson Christmas display in Detroit.

    Margaret was very generous and contributed to many charity’s. When a softball team was doing poorly she donated $200 to them to buy new bats. When a gravesite needed a marker Margaret would help finance it. The charities that Margaret donated too is far to many to list here. Margaret was a “do’er” in this world!

    Margaret was Catholic and lived by a doctrine of Christ and a love of family. In fact, almost every weekend of her life she was visiting family, whether it was playing cards with her Aunt Louise, touring Michigan shorelines with her Mother Loretta, or playing at the park with her nephew James, she loved her family dearly and would do anything for them.

    Peg lived in Oakwood and was James closest relative (distance wise) so she saw alot of the little guy. She was listed with the school as the first contact should an emergency arise with James and we are unable to be reached. We used to get together each weekend if possible and James always looks forward to the visits and hurries to the car, then plays hard to get with her when she asks for a kiss or hug.

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  • Remembering Great Aunt Mary Helen Otero 1935 – 2018

    We regret to write that James’ great Aunt Helen passed away today. She was the sister of James’ Grandma and will be missed very much by Grandma. Mary was a stewardess on an airline and flew all over the U.S. so you could say she was the Jet Setter of the family during that time.

  • Cemetery Sax

    While placing flowers at our family graves a sax player was playing to some of the graves.