COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 09/06/1993
Milton "Jerry" Kleier, a former Louisville alderman and state representative, died yesterday at home of a heart ailment. He was 66. As an alderman, Kleier represented the 6th Ward from 1984-1991. He was a member of the General Assembly for nearly 10 years in the 1970s. Though Kleier was known by colleagues for his compassion in the political arena, he gained a little fame for a trick he performed. "His famous trick was shooting dollar bills into the ceiling," former 8th Ward Alderman Tom Denning said. Kleier could roll the bills into a point sharp enough to spear ceilings – including that of Rep. Romano Mazzoli in Washington and Kleier's barber shop. "Jerry was very much a humorous individual, but there was at the same time a very serious side," Denning said. "He had concerned and religious sides that weren't overshadowed." Kleier, a self-employed insurance agent and a Democrat, was elected to represent the 37th District in the legislature in 1970, and he served five terms. He was chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee for four years and chairman of the Jefferson County delegation for six years. While in the House, he sponsored an amendment to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children bill in 1974 that allowed unemployed two-parent families to get welfare benefits. And as county delegation leader, he opened a public information center that became a liaison for city, county and state governments. In 1978, he decided not to seek reelection and ran for lieutenant governor. He dropped out of the race, however, when he couldn't get enough backing from other politicians. In 1984, Kleier was appointed 6th Ward alderman after David Banks moved from the district and resigned. Kleier sponsored the city's seat-belt ordinance, which passed in 1991. During his political career, Kleier – an ardent abortion opponent – was known for his candor, especially concerning controversial issues. "I decided that issues should be out in the open." Kleier once said. "If no one was going to comment, I would." He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of St. Ann's Confraternity and the Highland American Legion Post. His survivors include his wife, the former Mary Louise Nall; a son, Tim Kleier; five daughters, Kathy Ulmer, Susan Irvin, Karen Walker, Terri Espinosa and Patti Feldkamp; a brother Joseph Kleier; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6105 S. Third St. with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Joseph E. Ratterman & Son South End Funeral Home, 7330 Southside Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The family asks that memorial gifts go to Mass of the Air.
Milton "Jerry" Kleier, a former Louisville alderman and state representative, died yesterday at home of a heart ailment. He was 66. As an alderman, Kleier represented the 6th Ward from 1984-1991. He was a member of the General Assembly for nearly 10 years in the 1970s. Though Kleier was known by colleagues for his compassion in the political arena, he gained a little fame for a trick he performed. "His famous trick was shooting dollar bills into the ceiling," former 8th Ward Alderman Tom Denning said. Kleier could roll the bills into a point sharp enough to spear ceilings – including that of Rep. Romano Mazzoli in Washington and Kleier's barber shop. "Jerry was very much a humorous individual, but there was at the same time a very serious side," Denning said. "He had concerned and religious sides that weren't overshadowed." Kleier, a self-employed insurance agent and a Democrat, was elected to represent the 37th District in the legislature in 1970, and he served five terms. He was chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee for four years and chairman of the Jefferson County delegation for six years. While in the House, he sponsored an amendment to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children bill in 1974 that allowed unemployed two-parent families to get welfare benefits. And as county delegation leader, he opened a public information center that became a liaison for city, county and state governments. In 1978, he decided not to seek reelection and ran for lieutenant governor. He dropped out of the race, however, when he couldn't get enough backing from other politicians. In 1984, Kleier was appointed 6th Ward alderman after David Banks moved from the district and resigned. Kleier sponsored the city's seat-belt ordinance, which passed in 1991. During his political career, Kleier – an ardent abortion opponent – was known for his candor, especially concerning controversial issues. "I decided that issues should be out in the open." Kleier once said. "If no one was going to comment, I would." He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of St. Ann's Confraternity and the Highland American Legion Post. His survivors include his wife, the former Mary Louise Nall; a son, Tim Kleier; five daughters, Kathy Ulmer, Susan Irvin, Karen Walker, Terri Espinosa and Patti Feldkamp; a brother Joseph Kleier; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6105 S. Third St. with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Joseph E. Ratterman & Son South End Funeral Home, 7330 Southside Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The family asks that memorial gifts go to Mass of the Air.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 09/06/1993
Milton "Jerry" Kleier, a former Louisville alderman and state representative, died yesterday at home of a heart ailment. He was 66. As an alderman, Kleier represented the 6th Ward from 1984-1991. He was a member of the General Assembly for nearly 10 years in the 1970s. Though Kleier was known by colleagues for his compassion in the political arena, he gained a little fame for a trick he performed. "His famous trick was shooting dollar bills into the ceiling," former 8th Ward Alderman Tom Denning said. Kleier could roll the bills into a point sharp enough to spear ceilings – including that of Rep. Romano Mazzoli in Washington and Kleier's barber shop. "Jerry was very much a humorous individual, but there was at the same time a very serious side," Denning said. "He had concerned and religious sides that weren't overshadowed." Kleier, a self-employed insurance agent and a Democrat, was elected to represent the 37th District in the legislature in 1970, and he served five terms. He was chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee for four years and chairman of the Jefferson County delegation for six years. While in the House, he sponsored an amendment to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children bill in 1974 that allowed unemployed two-parent families to get welfare benefits. And as county delegation leader, he opened a public information center that became a liaison for city, county and state governments. In 1978, he decided not to seek reelection and ran for lieutenant governor. He dropped out of the race, however, when he couldn't get enough backing from other politicians. In 1984, Kleier was appointed 6th Ward alderman after David Banks moved from the district and resigned. Kleier sponsored the city's seat-belt ordinance, which passed in 1991. During his political career, Kleier – an ardent abortion opponent – was known for his candor, especially concerning controversial issues. "I decided that issues should be out in the open." Kleier once said. "If no one was going to comment, I would." He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of St. Ann's Confraternity and the Highland American Legion Post. His survivors include his wife, the former Mary Louise Nall; a son, Tim Kleier; five daughters, Kathy Ulmer, Susan Irvin, Karen Walker, Terri Espinosa and Patti Feldkamp; a brother Joseph Kleier; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6105 S. Third St. with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Joseph E. Ratterman & Son South End Funeral Home, 7330 Southside Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The family asks that memorial gifts go to Mass of the Air.
Milton "Jerry" Kleier, a former Louisville alderman and state representative, died yesterday at home of a heart ailment. He was 66. As an alderman, Kleier represented the 6th Ward from 1984-1991. He was a member of the General Assembly for nearly 10 years in the 1970s. Though Kleier was known by colleagues for his compassion in the political arena, he gained a little fame for a trick he performed. "His famous trick was shooting dollar bills into the ceiling," former 8th Ward Alderman Tom Denning said. Kleier could roll the bills into a point sharp enough to spear ceilings – including that of Rep. Romano Mazzoli in Washington and Kleier's barber shop. "Jerry was very much a humorous individual, but there was at the same time a very serious side," Denning said. "He had concerned and religious sides that weren't overshadowed." Kleier, a self-employed insurance agent and a Democrat, was elected to represent the 37th District in the legislature in 1970, and he served five terms. He was chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee for four years and chairman of the Jefferson County delegation for six years. While in the House, he sponsored an amendment to the Aid to Families with Dependent Children bill in 1974 that allowed unemployed two-parent families to get welfare benefits. And as county delegation leader, he opened a public information center that became a liaison for city, county and state governments. In 1978, he decided not to seek reelection and ran for lieutenant governor. He dropped out of the race, however, when he couldn't get enough backing from other politicians. In 1984, Kleier was appointed 6th Ward alderman after David Banks moved from the district and resigned. Kleier sponsored the city's seat-belt ordinance, which passed in 1991. During his political career, Kleier – an ardent abortion opponent – was known for his candor, especially concerning controversial issues. "I decided that issues should be out in the open." Kleier once said. "If no one was going to comment, I would." He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a member of St. Ann's Confraternity and the Highland American Legion Post. His survivors include his wife, the former Mary Louise Nall; a son, Tim Kleier; five daughters, Kathy Ulmer, Susan Irvin, Karen Walker, Terri Espinosa and Patti Feldkamp; a brother Joseph Kleier; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 6105 S. Third St. with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be at Joseph E. Ratterman & Son South End Funeral Home, 7330 Southside Drive, from 6 to 9 p.m. today and from 2 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The family asks that memorial gifts go to Mass of the Air.
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