Russ "Rabbit" Klein

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Russell Reno “Rabbit” Klein was born on August 9, 1948, in Dunlap, Iowa to parents Harold Martin and Geralda Susan (Wingert) Klein. He attended school in Dunlap and graduated from there in 1967. Russ started working at IBP and then enlisted in the US Navy. While in the Navy he was stationed in Pensacola, Florida where he refueled jets coming into the ship. After his honorable discharge, Russ went back to work at IBP and worked there for 26 years. Russ then worked at Denison Drywall & Supply for 19 years. Russ did not stay retired for very long; he was asked to make deliveries for Arnold Motor Supply and he worked for them for the last 10 years. Russ married his high school sweetheart Joyce Melby Miller on December 30, 1978, and he added two sons, Michael and Mark Miller to the family.

Fishing and ice fishing with his boys became a passion of Russ’. They entered many ice fishing tournaments throughout Iowa and also loved fishing in the local farm ponds. Russ’s other passion was fast and loud cars. Joyce and Russ traveled many miles in their '32 Ford Street Rod going to the mountains of Colorado, Arkansas and many car shows through out the Midwest. They received many trophies with their car and one trophy was bigger than the car!!

Russ died on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Denison Care Center at the age of 76 years, two months and 17 days.

Russ is preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark Miller; two sisters, Grace Klein and Gladys Weis; sister-in-law, Gay Melby and nephew, Mark Bissen. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Klein of Denison, Iowa; son, Michael Miller and his wife Jill of Denison; two grandsons, Gage Miller and his fiancée Kayla of Schleswig, Iowa and Gavin Miller of Sheldon, Iowa; four siblings, Alma (Kenny) Bissen of Lebanon, TN, Harold Jr. “Sonny” (Rose) Klein of Omaha, NE, his twin brother, Ronald (Barbara) Klein of Colchester, VT, and JoAnn (Jim) Gray of Dunlap, IA; brothers-in-law, Joe Weis of Norfolk, NE, Clarion Melby of Dow City, Iowa and Randy (Dorothy) Melby of Dunlap and many other relatives and friends.