Joseph Harry Kleimann

Joseph (Joe) H. Kleimann passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2017, at Jennie Sealy Hospital. He was born September 13, 1927 on Galveston Island to Henry and Lillian (Schmidt) Kleimann.  Joe worked for G & H Towing.  The first tug he was on was an old steam tugboat named Chas. Clark, and 49 years later, he retired as Chief Engineer on the tugboat Juno.

In his spare time, Joe liked to fish and was an avid gardener and fan of the Houston Astros. A proud “BOI” at heart, he definitely had the “sand between his toes.”  Joe had many stories to tell about his life on the island.  On his 81^st birthday, Ike destroyed his home and he came back with determination and perseverance to rebuild and get back on the island.  He had the resilience of his grandfather and family members who survived the 1900 and 1915 storms to rebuild and stay in Galveston.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Lisa; his parents; brothers: Henry (Hank) Kleimann, Lawrence (Sonnie) Kleimann and wife, Marie; sister, Sybil K. Caldeira; and nephew, Larry G. Kleimann.

Left to cherish his memory are his nephews, Jerry B. Kleimann and wife, Margo, of Galveston; Nathan Kleimann and wife, Chante, of Galveston; great nephew, John L. Kleimann and wife, Jennie, of Hitchcock; niece, Sharon Wright and husband, Mike, of Colorado; and niece-in-law, Joyce L. Kleimann, of Hitchcock.

Graveside service will be 11:00 am, Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Galveston Memorial Park in Hitchcock.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.