Urban Kleman (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—Urban Kleman, 87, died Sunday, August 26, 2012, in Tulia. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 29, 2012, in the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit with Father Ken Keller as Celebrant and Father Marco Gonzalez and Msgr. Harold Waldow as Co-Celebrant’s and assisted by Deacon Jackie Gunnels and Deacon Bob Birkenfeld. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia. A rosary will be held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at the church. Urban was born May 31, 1925 in Nazareth to Arthur and Loretta Kleman. He was raised in Nazareth and graduated from Nazareth High School. He farmed in Nazareth. He was in the US Army from 1944 to 1946 serving in the Pacific and receiving a purple heart. He returned to Nazareth and farmed. He married Roberta Bowers on October 4, 1950 in Nazareth. They moved to Tulia in 1950 where he began his carpentry and construction career training under Lloyd Hamilton. He later started his own business where he built all types of buildings in Swisher, Castro and Briscoe counties including the original St. Williams Catholic Church in Tulia and the Rectory and Education building of the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Tulia. He built the Catholic Church in Silverton, the CCD Building, Convent and Rectory in Nazareth and the Kress Catholic Church where he received a special blessing from the Pope. He also worked construction for Allsup’s for a few years. He was a founding member of the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit. He was a member of the Catholic Order of Forresters, Tulia VFW and American Legion, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #12534 where he was a 3rd degree Knight and a member of the Amarillo Diocesan Building Committee. He is survived by his wife Roberta Kleman of Tulia, four daughters: Brenda Gunnels and husband Jackie of Tulia, Cheryl Green and husband Jim of Leoti, Kansas, Wanda Vineyard and husband Buddy of Kress and Melissa Albracht of Clovis, New Mexico, one son: Keith Kleman and wife Sherie of Amarillo, four brothers: Bernerd Kleman and wife Irene of Burnett, Texas, Laverne Kleman and wife Karen of Arkansas, Carl Dean Kleman and wife Mary of Nazareth and Alphonse Kleman and wife Viola of Nazareth, two sisters: Leola Ramaekers of Nazareth and Agnus Schilling of Dimmitt, 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, a son: Kevin Kleman, a son-in-law: Raef Albracht, a grandson: John Green and two brothers: Elmer Kleman and Harold Kleman. Pallbearers will be Jay Gunnels, Brent Gunnels, Kris Kleman, Jim Vineyard, Travis Kleman, Tyler Albracht, Tanner Albracht and Byron Bangerter in honor of John Green. Memorials may be made to the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit Building fund, 513 S. Austin, Tulia, TX 79088 or to the Area Community Hospice, 3109 Olton Rd, Ste. C, Plainview, Texas 79072.