Leonard E. Klappa

Leonard E. Klappa, age 87 passed away on July 24th, 2019 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Green Bay. Len was born on May 25, 1932 in Wisconsin Rapids to the late Edward and Anna (Gabor) Klappa. He attended Sacred Heart School and Alexander High in Nekoosa, WI and then served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1952-1956, leaving with an honorable discharge. Len returned home and married the love of his life, Mary Ann (Bredl) Klappa on June 25th, 1955 at Sacred Heart Church. He worked for Nekoosa Edwards Paper Company for the next 13 years until attending NWTI in Eau Claire, WI, where he earned a Master Barber Degree. For the next 25 years, Len owned and operated Bay Center Barber Stylists in Green Bay, WI. In 1994, Len and Mary Ann retired to a lake home in Mountain, WI and he worked part-time in retirement for the USDA Forest Service in the Nicolet National Forest Seed Orchard. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer, and Green Bay Packer season ticket holder.

Len was a past Commander of the American Legion Hamel-Ruder Post 381 and a Sacred Heart grade school football coach in Nekoosa, WI, former member of the Green Bay Stein and Dance Club in Green Bay, WI, past member of the Holy Name Society of St. Mary's of the Lakes, current member of the American Legion Post 44 of Wabeno, WI, current member of St. Mary's of the Lakes Catholic Church in Lakewood, WI, and a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
Len is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann (Bredl) Klappa; his daughter Connie Jones; step-grandchildren: Andy (Anne) Jones and Greg Jones; step-great-grandchildren: Noah, Caleb, Ethan, Parker, and Zelie Jones; sister Judith (Klappa) Fogerty, brother and sister-in-law Dale and Jeanette Irwin, brother-in-law Roman Bredl, and many nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son Kenneth; a step-grandson Steve Jones; sisters: Carole Klappa and Jane (Klappa) Martinson-Francis; father and mother-in-law George and Theresa Bredl, sisters-in-law Georgianna Sands and Lillian Bredl, and brother-in-law Jim Martinson.

Visitation for Leonard will be held on Saturday, August 24th from 10am-11am at St. Mary's of the Lake Catholic Church (15232 County F, Lakewood, WI 54138) with Fr. Philip Dinh-Van-Thiep officiating. A Memorial Service will begin at 11am with full Military Honors to follow by the American Legion Post 44 of Wabeno, WI. Newcomer- Green Bay Chapel has been entrusted with making arrangements.