"Doc," as referred to by his friends and patients, and our Father, Dad, shared his last moments of life surrounded by his loving family and life long partner and beloved wife, "Lib" of nearly 65 years, passed on peacefully to eternal Life on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, at the young age of 86 years.
A man raised by working class parents set his sights early in life to become the first college graduate in his family's history ... as he would often comment on how proud his mother and dad were in his reaching that goal.
Once Dad graduated from Williamsport High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II for over two and a half years as a radioman gunner on carrier-based dive bombers in the Task Force 58 Fleet during the Iwo Jima and Okinawa conflicts. A short time following his honorable discharge, Dad started his college career here in Williamsport at Dickinson Seminary (Lycoming College) studying pre-med and went on to graduate in 1951 from National College of Chiropractics in Chicago.
Article Photos
Not forgetting that Dad shared this academic experience with our mother, Mary Elizabeth "Lib" (Calkins), who he married in 1947, following what they have described as "love at first sight" world wind relationship; and started his family while in college with the birth of his son, Don and first daughter, Sandra.
Dad settled and established his practice as a chiropractor in Milton, Pa., where he retired in 1995 after committing 44 years to his patients in the prevention and management of health related problems treatable by spinal manipulation.
"Doc" is a past member of the PA Chiropractic Society, previously active member of the Milton BPOE and a past member and "duffer" at the Wynding Brook Country Club.
Dad's life passion was with nature and the outdoors which started with scouting and continued with his family through yearly camping excursions up and down the east coast starting in 1957 after the birth of their second daughter, Jamie.
Dad is survived by his wife, Mary "Lib" Klees, who resides at The Williamsport Home in their independent living apartments; his son, Don, who lives and works in the Philadelphia area as a Regional Consultant on Child Welfare issues for DPW; his eldest daughter, Sandra Hanzel, who lives and works in Bucks County, with Verizon Wireless; and Jamie Hoffa, who lives and resides with her husband, Rob Hoffa, attorney, and stepdaughter in the Cogan Station area and the former head of Public Relations with a local chiropractor. He was honored and proud to have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Dad's parents were the late Timothy and Margaret (Trostle) Klees from Williamsport.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at the Knight-Confer Funeral Home, 1914 Memorial Ave., where the family will share special thoughts of Dad, Dr. Harry W. Klees.
The family requests that all consider, in lieu of flowers, a donation in "Doc's" name to either The Williamsport Home Pillar Endowment Fund, 1900 Ravine Road or Susquehanna Home Care and Hospice Services, 1100 Grampian Blvd., both Williamsport, PA 17701.
