Obituary of Kenneth E. Kleeman

South Plainfield - Kenneth E. Kleeman, 89, died on Thursday, October 2, 2014 in Care One at the Highlands in Edison. Born in Newark, Ken was the son of the late Pauline and Alfred Kleeman. He grew up in Union and settled in South Plainfield with his wife Phyllis in 1956. A Veteran of the U.S. Army, Ken served as an M.P. during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1945. He worked as a Senior Retail Representative for the former Atlantic Refining Company, which now operates as British Petroleum in Philadelphia, retiring in 1981. Ken was a longtime and devout member of the Masonic Loyalty Lodge No. 33 in Union. He served as Past Master Mason as well as Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 13th Masonic District. He was a Sir Knight of both the Trinity Commandery No. 17 Knights Templar in Westfield as well as the Northern NJ Council No. 10 of the Knights Masons. Ken was also a member of the South Plainfield VFW Post 6763 and the South Plainfield American Legion Chaumont Post 243. A sports enthusiast, Ken particularly enjoyed playing golf as well as taking golf trips with his close friends. In addition he loved to fish and swim and even served as a swimming instructor. Ken is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Phyllis, a sister Doris Reininger and her husband William of Barnegat, his brother in-law Herman Maurer of New Providence, a niece Cynthia Maurer Millet and her husband Richard of Califon, his nephews William (Rocky) Reininger and his fiancé Grace of Thousand Oaks, CA, Robert Reininger his godson and his wife Alina of Manasquan, Richard Reininger and his wife Jeanne of Las Vegas, NV and his nephew Wayne Maurer and his wife Lauren of Warren, and his great nephew Eric Reininger and his wife Rebecca of CA, many beloved cousins, as well as his Masonic Brothers. Also surviving are his close friends, John Dill and his wife Meg and their family, Gladys More and Diane Neunert. Visitation will be held on Tuesday October 7, 2014 from 3-7 pm in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals 2425 Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield, NJ 07080. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday October 8, 2014 at 12:00 Noon in the McCriskin-Gustafson Home For Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Interment will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the 13th District Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 70, Roselle Park, NJ 07204 or to the South Plainfield Rescue Squad, 2520 Plainfield Ave., South Plainfield, NJ 07080.