Joan Carol Klein

On Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2025, Joan Carol Klein broke free from this natural world to enter her eternal Heavenly home prepared for her by her loving Savior.

Joan was born in Nampa, Id to Marion and Edith Stimmel on Sept. 9, 1931. The Stimmels were teachers in Homedale, so most of her young life was in Homedale. When she graduated High School, she went to Colorado Women’s College in Denver for two years. She finished her degree at Oregon State University, then accepted a position with the Cooperative Extension Service as the Home Agent in Fremont County in Eastern Idaho.

It was in St. Anthony that she met a handsome young man and eventually married Edward Klein. They built a house in the small farming community of Wilford. They had 4 children. After staying at home to raise them until the youngest was in school, she studied to get her teaching certificate for Home Economics. She taught in the South Fremont High school for 24 years. In the summers she taught 4-H to many of the local kids, including her own.

Even before she retired from teaching, she and Ed traveled often. While she was still teaching, they attended Ed’s WWII air force reunions for many years. Those reunions were spread all over the U.S. After Joan retired they expanded their travels to overseas, often with her sister, Jacquie, and husband Bob, from Portland Ore. Some of those places included: Germany, Kenya, Costa Rica, South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Greece. When Her husband died (4 months after celebrating their 50th anniversary) she teamed up with a dear friend, Pam Hill to continue traveling to places as Iceland, and many others.

Joan was a valued servant in her church and community. She held several leadership positions in her church. She volunteered in Hospice for Eastern Id. She was the volunteer collection center chair for Samaratin’s purse (the Christmas shoe boxes). She and Ed worked together to chair the committee to plan, secure funds, and to build a skate park for the youth of St. Anthony. Even Tony Hawk came to the dedication!

She was a member of Eastern Stars 50+ years, and PEO for 50+ years.

Because of years of faithful service in her community she earned many awards, and accolades.

Joan was preceded in death by her Husband, Edward Klein, her parents, Marion and Edith Stimmel. Her sister Jacquie Bothman, brother-in-law, Robert Bothman, and son in law, Pete Werner.

She is survived by 4 children:

Carol (Rick) Thompson

Sandra (Pete) Werner

Tony (Amy) Klein

Alan (Carol) Klein

5 grandchildren:

Jenny (Ryan) Young

Drew (Helen) Klein

Taylor (Katie) Klein

Spencer (Kylie) Klein

Kara Klein

6 Great grandchildren:

Ember-Jeanne Young

Daniel Young

Timothy Young

Kasin Klein

Henry Klein

Beau Klein

A memorial service will be held on January 3, 2026, at 11:00 am at first Presbyterian Church 400 Lake Lowell Ave. Nampa

A graveside will be held in Wilford, Id sometime in the spring.

Flowers are welcomed, and/ or, gifts to a charity especially to those charities who care for children.