The Kleiber Family Timeline

Category: Cemetery/Funeral

Funerals, Cemetaries, and Graves

  • Mothers Day 2017

    The weather held out for us and we were able to make Mothers day a special day. First we went to Michigan Memorial to lay flowers on the graves, we got flowers that were just ready to bloom so we are hoping they last more than a couple days like the ones in the past. James did the water part of the job and while we were doing it we heard someone serenading a grave with a sax, I don’t remember ever seeing that before. I snapped a video of it so maybe you can hear some of what we heard.

    After Michigan Memorial we went to the antique store in Flat Rock, then on to Red Robins where we had a great Mothers day lunch. All in all a great day for Mom.

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  • Cedar Point August 2016

    Lots of fun on this hot day in August, lots of rides on the splash ride and a trip on the old mine roller coaster to try to dry off. All in all lots of fun. James rode a few of the swing rides that looked kind of easy till they started moving then it was like “look out” as the rides really took off. We enjoyed a late lunch at a buffet in the park and everyone got some t-shirts. Unfortunately they won’t let you take pics while you are on the fast rides (even when they are going slow) so that put a little damper on the picture action, but everything else was perfect. Next visit here we plan to see the dinosaurs, and the visit after that should be Hallo-Weekends so hopefully we have lots more of Cedar Point before the season ends.

    You have to give James credit for being inventive, no matter how hot it got at Cedar Point, he always had a way to cool off.

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  • Remembering Aunt Mary Ann Kleiber 1934 – 2015

    We lost Aunt Mary Ann to cancer this year. Aunt Mary Ann is Uncle Don’s wife, Mike, Bruce, and Sandy’s Mother, and James Great Aunt. Aunt Mary Ann was born June 30 1934 and passed away March 26, 2015. Unfortunately James nor his mother could not attend due to a previous scheduled dentist appointment, but Dad made it and it was a beautiful ceremony at Saint Tims church and another nice job by the good people at Martenson funeral home. I should also mention it was by far the best day of Spring, warm sun, cool breeze, just a gorgeous day and really all that was missing was my Aunt.

    Most of my memories of Aunt Mary Ann were as a child, she and Uncle Don were my God parents and really about the nicest people you would ever meet. I also remember going over to their house for dinner with Aunt Ginny one time and the great meal she cooked for us, and several trips with James’ Grandfather (who just loved their Schnauzer, it would growl at him the whole visit and he loved the dogs loyalty). Fortunately James and his Mom got to meet Aunt Mary Ann, we stopped in and visited one Sunday several years back and talked for a couple hours with Uncle Don and Aunt Mary Ann.

    It was great seeing Uncle Don and cousins Bruce and Sandy again, just wish it was under better circumstances. All our best wishes goes out to them and their families.

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  • Aunt Louise Grave Marker In Place

    On Saturdays we enjoy going Garage Sale shopping since its relatively inexpensive and teaches James alot about the value of money. This day, however, we decided to do our “saling” near Michigan Memorial Cemetery so we could check on the status of Aunt Louise’s marker.

    It was in and in place, the temp was gone, and they also had repaired Grandpa Graf’s marker, which had began crumbling after the harsh winter (it was made in the 50’s after all).

    We let Aunt Peg know and she was very happy. This all began a few months earlier when cousin Sandy visited us and put down some money for a marker for Aunt Louise. Aunt Peg then paid off the balance and six weeks later Aunt Louise has her marker. The next project for Michigan Memorial will be raising Uncle Raymonds marker. Uncle Raymond died in WW2 and his marker has sunk down about an inch, making it difficult to see in the grass.

  • Nashville by Air 2014

    This year our trip to Nashville was not as joyous as ones in the past had been. Mom had to fly out to Nashville under difficult circumstances – Grandpa Landis had passed away.

    Mom took these pictures on the flight down where she met Uncle Bill to help with the funeral arrangements. James, Grandma, and Dad drove down one day later in what could best be described as an incredibly wet drive with nothing but rain from Cincy to Nashville.

    The funeral service was very nice with military honors and the weather remained calm long enough as well. On the drive home the rain began again, but it was nothing compared to what we went through the night before.

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  • Remembering Howard Landis 1928 – 2014

    Howard Landis is the father to Bill and Mary, Husband to Judith, and Grandfather to James.

    Howard spent several years in the military (Navy) during the Korean War and was an honorably discharged Veteran. Howard was very good mechanically and used to repair televisions for a living. He was a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and worked for RCA Victor in sales for over 25 years.

    He also enjoyed working with cars and likes the Detroit auto industry, unlike certain politicians. Mom said he was thrilled to hear she had married someone from Detroit (even though the person she married knew nothing about cars).

    He loved the Three Stooges and Felix the Cat was his favorite cartoon. He loved seafood and his favorite vacation spot was Sarasota Florida. He exercised his choice to vote every election, even while living at West Meade.

    Howard past away peacefully at West Meade (which is a nursing home in Tennessee).

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  • Remembering Teresa Graf 1928 – 2013

    When Teresa Eva Graf Pingitore was born on April 1, 1928, in Saskatchewan, Canada, her father, Sarafino, was 34, and her mother, Susanna, was 22. She married Joseph Conrad Graf on November 15, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan. They had three children during their marriage. She died on March 12, 2013, in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the age of 84.

    According to Ancestry Terese was the “wife of James Great Uncle” but she was so much more. James Dad has many fond memories of his Aunt Terese, including going camping with her and her family in their trailer at Proud Lake and at Silver Lake. She was a big Tiger fan (as is everyone in the family, but she was a little more out spoken when a call was made against the tigers) and a great cook. James Dad remembers going to Tiger Stadium to watch the Lions with Aunt Terese and her family. The Lions lost that game (no surprise there) but we did see Lem Barney return a punt for a touchdown during the game.

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  • Mackinaw Island Cemetery 2010

    There are 3 main cemeteries on Mackinaw Island and each year we visited all three since they are right next to each other. There is a Protestant cemetery, a Catholic cemetery, and a Military Cemetery. Each has its own atmosphere with burial sites dating back well over a century ago (1835 is the oldest we found). To be buried on the island you need to either have been born there or own property there.

    One fascinating bit of history is the Military Post Cemetery. It is one of only 5 locations where the American flag is flown at half mast every day. The other 4 places you may have heard about, they are Arlington, Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg, and Normundy France.

    A bit creepy we admit, but an annual stop on our visit to Mackinaw Island State Park.

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  • Remembering Mike Kleiber 1954 – 2009

    We lost Mike Kleiber this year, Uncle Don’s oldest son. Mike was born April 16, 1954 and most of my recollection of him was Christmas Eve and Grandma and Grandpa Kleibers. I remember my sister always teasing him about the length of his hair during those days. Mike was a longtime employee of Detroit Edison. I had a chance to meet Mikes kids (Jason & Scott) at the funeral and they are great and fun to be around, just like Mike was. Mike was buried at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery.

    The flash presentation below is courtesy of Martenson Funeral Home, who also buried Aunt Louise, Cousin Mark, and my father, Charles T. I guess if our family had an official family funeral home, they would be it. They come highly recommended to all who view this page.

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  • Remembering Virginia 1929 – 2008

    Aunt Ginny as most of the family knew her, was the daughter of Ben and Millie, sister of Charles, Raymond, Dorothy, and Donald. Some of my fondest memories of Aunt Ginny was her taking to Tiger stadium for my first night game as a boy and every Christmas eve she would have pizza for us at Grandma and Grampa Kleibers.

    When I went into the military, Aunt Ginny came and lived with my Mom and Dad for a few years, then with my sister Criss before getting her own place in Taylor. Her final days were in the same nursing home as Aunt Louise and she passed away while we were up north at Mackinaw.

    We do not have many pictures of Virginia so if you can contribute something that would be great.

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