Philip Edwin Klemett

     Philip Edwin Klemett passed away peacefully in the early hours of 23 October 2024 at the Wesleyan

Skilled Nursing facility in Georgetown, Texas. His health had been failing for several months. He and his

wife of 55 years had moved to Sun City, Georgetown, Texas 4 years ago to be closer to family.

Phil was born in Houghton, Michigan on 4 September 1941. He graduated from Michigan Technological

University with a degree in Applied Physics. He worked briefly for Packard Electric, a division of General

Motors, before joining the Navy. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and served as Engineering

Officer on the destroyer, USS Epperson. After leaving the Navy, Phil worked in various sales offices for

the Trane Company - Commercial Products Division. He met his wife, Carolyn Busse, in LaCrosse where

she was studying at the University. They were married a year later at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in

Madison. Over the years, Phil was known by and loved his many nicknames: Chubba, Gasoline Stando,

Philsey Baby, Bobba (Bob for short), Filipe Kleme, Flip and Sven.

     Phil and Carolyn raised their sons, Erik and Kris in LaCrosse, EauClaire and Fargo, N.D. Phil’s last “port

of call” with Trane was Toledo, OH, where he spent his last 25 years before retiring.

Phil enjoyed singing and was a member of the LaCrosse Barber Shoppers Chorus. He also sang with a

quartet, The Unpaid Bills, who were a part of the LaCrosse Community Theatre production of, The Music

Man. He was a long time member of Rotary International and served in various offices and was a Paul

Harris Fellow. He was a competitive Racquetball player and won many tournaments in LaCrosse. He

played basketball and softball in Trane leagues and enjoyed playing golf with friends and clients. Phil

was a great supporter of youth sports serving on the Babe Ruth Baseball Board in Fargo and sponsoring

many youth baseball teams there. As a nod to his Finnish heritage, he took up cross country skiing and

along with thousands of others, skied in 3 of the world famous Birkebeiner cross country ski races in

Hayward, Wisconsin. After his retirement, he discovered stained glass making and spent many happy

hours in his studio making stained glass hangings, panels and lamps of various sizes. He also did fused

glass pieces and concrete stepping stones. Much of his work he happily shared with family and friends.

Phil loved his family, his wife of 55 years, his friends, his country, his God and the U.S. Navy. He had

Navy friends that he visited and corresponded with all his life.

     He loved watching football ~ especially the University of Michigan. We tailgated at their home games for

almost 30 years! He loved to eat and made the best soups, stews and pasties (a Copper Country

favourite). His family cottage north of Hancock had a special place in his heart. He and his brother, Rick,

helped their Dad build the cottage and sauna. It is still owned by the family and he loved returning home

to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to spend time there with his sons.

     Phil is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Busse) and his two sons and their families: Kris & Laura (Thomas)

of Austin, Texas and children, Andrew and Genevieve; Erik & Gayla (Walker) of Rutland, Vermont and

son, Sam. Phil is also survived by his brother, Rick Klemett and wife Joanne of Fenton, Michigan, his

sister, Kathy Kind of Saline Michigan and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his

parents Edwin and Irene (Kemppainen) and his sister Lois (Lescelius).

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Cress Funeral Home on Speedway Rd. in Madison, Wisconsin

on March 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM with burial following in Forest Hill Cemetery.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434