Frank “Joe” Joseph Kloiber Jr.

Frank J. Kloiber, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at the age of 79 surrounded by family.

Loving husband of Juliana (nee Lemens) for 51 years. Proud father of Frank III (Elise), Daniel (Leesa), James, John Paul (Erika), Joseph (Julia), Peter (Brittni), Anne Marie (Jonathan) Young, and Thomas (Katylyn). Doting Papa Joe of David, Joseph Jr., Ethan, Joshua, Evelyn, Braeden, Liam, Jonathan, Jacob, Samuel, Zachary, Collette, Luke, Viola, Cecilia, and Thomas Jr. Also loved by brothers James (Stephanie) and Thomas (Maryellen), and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents Frank, Sr. and Viola.

Joe was a man who believed in Family, Faith, Service, Generosity, Hard Work, & Playing Hard. He grew up in Fort Atkinson, WI, with his parents and two brothers. Joe attended Fort Atkinson High where his love of sports led him to lettering in football, basketball, and golf. He then entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison to earn a degree in Pharmacology. There he discovered one of his greatest athletic passions: playing rugby for the Wisconsin Rugby Club. The Vietnam War put school & rugby on hold. He enlisted in the US Army and went through OCS (Officer Candidate School), where he performed exceptionally well, graduating in the top of his class. When Joe returned to the States between tours, he chased down who would be the love of his life, Juliana Lemens. Upon Joe’s return from the war, he was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant, and completed his degree.

He moved to Milwaukee with his young family, where he started his pharmacist career at Columbia & Children’s Hospitals. He also brought his love of rugby, forging the new Westside Harlequin Rugby Club into a great team. While busy with work and rugby Joe and Julie grew their family, and in 14 short years they had 8 wonderful children (7 boys, 1 girl). To provide for his family, he often worked multiple jobs, took many extra shifts, & used his self-created labor force to both earn some extra money and help the community by having his kids shovel snow or mow lawns for the neighbors. He also used the extra shifts he worked to trade for time off, usually at least two weeks in the summer to take his family on road trips from Milwaukee to one end of the country or the other in their Buick station wagon.

Joe’s itchy feet would also take him around the world, where he was always looking for a new place to watch rugby. His rugby tours would take him, the Harlequins, and Julie or his children to places like England, Wales, France, South Africa, and New Zealand. Joe passed on his love of rugby to some of his children, and he put his rugby talents to work starting and supporting high school rugby programs in Milwaukee, including at Marquette University High School. Half of his kids played high school rugby competitively.

After 17 years of working for Walgreens, Parkinson’s Disease would ultimately force Joe to slow down. Though he retired from pharmacy earlier than he anticipated, he was often seen at the rugby pitch, the Brewers stadium, & biking all over town. As Joe’s children started having children, it was his grandkids that would bring him the most joy. His greatest legacy is the family that he leaves behind.

Joe was a stubborn man of strength and principle, who would never back down. He had an unparalleled work ethic and never did anything by half measures. He was also a man of strong faith and abundant generosity, who would do anything he could to help a friend, a patient, or a stranger in need. He will be missed, but he touched so many lives in so many ways that he will not be forgotten.

Memorials appreciated to Wisconsin Parkinson’s Association and Milwaukee Barbarians Rugby Club.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 29^th from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM with Rosary at 4:00 PM at Krause Funeral Home, 12401 West National Avenue, New Berlin, Wisconsin. Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Evangelist, 8500 West Cold Spring Road, Greenfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, September 30^th at 11:00 AM. Frank will be interred at Evergreen Cemetery, 1105 North Main Street, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin on Monday, October 2^nd at 11:00 AM.

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