William “Bill” A. Klem, 82, of Washington, died at 10:10 p.m. Saturday at Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes.

Born June 22, 1925, in Jasper, he was the son of Peter and Mary (Wigand) Klem.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and worked at Sears for 42 years. He was a 54-year member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles No. 414, where he was a past president and served 50 years as a Zone 4 treasurer, a feat never before accomplished. He was inducted on June 24, 2006, into the Indiana State Eagles “Hall of Fame.” He was also a member of the Washington American Legion and was a life member of the VFW. He was an avid fisherman and loved playing cards.

He is survived by his wife, Verna (Tomey-Allen) Klem; four daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Morris Petty of Washington, Jane and Jimmy Arthur of Seymour, Barbara Petty of Washington, and Sharon and Richard Walford of Washington; one son, Arlen B. Allen of Loogootee, 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one sister and brother-in-law, Anna and John Curtis of Hayden, Idaho; and one brother, Basil Klem of Fountain Valley, Calif.

He is preceded in death by one daughter, Judith Gail Klem; one grandson, Jimmy Arthur; and six brothers, Charles, August, Edwin, Urban, Robert and Lawrence Klem, who just preceded him by 12 hours.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Rev. Gordon Mann as celebrant. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery, with military rites by the Washington American Legion and VFW.

Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ed Lee Mortuary, with a wake service at 4 p.m. and Eagles State Ritual Team memorial service at 6 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be made at www.edleemortuary.com.

(May 17, 2008)