Willis Gene Kleine

Willis Gene Kleine, age 85, of Pierce City, Missouri, passed away 3:32 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Jacob’s Ladder Legacy Home in Springfield, Missouri. He was born May 15, 1937, in Stott City, Missouri, the son of the late Walter Carl and Bertha Louise (Jung) Kleine.

Willis was a 1954 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and served in the Army National Guard. He was a farmer and worked for MWM Color Press in Aurora, Missouri, for 34 years. He was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, where he served on the church and cemetery board.

On December 30, 1955, he married Phyllis Jean Aleshire, in Mt. Vernon.

Willis is survived by his wife of 66 years, Phyllis; one daughter, Janet Curl and her husband, Mark, of Mt. Vernon; one son, Jim Kleine and his wife, Lorna, of Stotts City; seven grandchildren, Amanda (Jory) Leeper, Bryce (Ann) Curl, Josh (Haley) Kleine, Michelle (Ryan) Leon, Zack (Briana) Kleine, Jessica (Marco) Olano and Jenna (Logan) Dailey; six great-grandchildren, Violet Leeper, Sullivan Leeper, Isla Leeper, Cambelle Kleine, Mila Leon and Lettie Dailey.

A visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2022, at the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at the Zion United Church of Christ, southwest of Mt. Vernon. Burial will follow at the Zion Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made payable to the Zion United Church of Christ or the Jacob’s Ladder Legacy Home, in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.