Obituary of Bernard Allen Kleine

Bernard Allen Kleine, age 85, of Walton, KY, passed away at his residence & surrounded by his family on Saturday, November 4, 2023.  He was a retired Welder and a U.S. Navy Veteran.  As part of “Bernie’s” stint in the Navy, he served on the USS Lake Champlain and was involved in the recovery of the Mercury Redstone 3 or Freedom 7 spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean, piloted by astronaut Sam Shepard in 1961.  Bernie was known around Northern Kentucky as being an excellent, reasonable Welder and many farmers and other individuals used him to repair their equipment over the years.  He was a member of the NRA, enjoyed cutting wood, and in later years, enjoyed “scrapping”.

Bernie met his wife, Dee Anna Hamm Kleine, in the 4^th grade and their relationship lasted over 73 years, including 66 as husband and wife.  He is also survived by his son, Victor Kleine (Renee); daughter, Lori Bonar (Rodney); grandchildren, Victor Kleine (Crissy), Brittyne Hodge, Josiah Kleine (Lauren), and Savannah Eubanks (Nick); and great grandchildren, Avery Kleine, Colton Kleine, Kennedy Kleine, Kaylee McIntosh, Cassie McIntosh, Timothy McIntosh, Eden McIntosh, Kalyen Deck, Abby Gillespie, Josh Gillespie, Thomas Gillespie, Jake Slawnyk, Addy Kleine, Lane Kleine, Carson Askren, and Clay Eubanks. 

Visitation for Bernie will be Friday, November 10^th, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, with the funeral service beginning at noon, at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, 11382 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051.  His committal service, with military honors, will be at Independence Cemetery immediately following the funeral service.  Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  For directions to view his Life Tribute Video or to leave the family a message of condolence, please go to www.chambersandgrubbs.com.