Donald Kleeb

Donald Rex Kleeb

Clinton, MS

At home with his wife, Rev. Donald Rex Kleeb, 72, joined his Heavenly Father on Friday, September 27, 2019 after a battle with cancer.  Visitation will be from 10:30 am until the 12:00 pm Memorial Service on Saturday, October 05, 2019, at Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon, MS.

Don was born in Eugene, Oregon on December 21, 1946, to Rex and Irma Secoy Baldwin. His family then returned to Texas where he lived throughout his formative years. He served in the army in Germany during the Vietnam War.  Returning from the army, he joined his mother and sister living in New Orleans, Louisiana and met and married the love of his life, Paula Krebs. Their world-wind courtship lasted 5 months, but their marriage of 48 years is a testament to their love and devotion to each other.  They had three children and five grandchildren who adored their grandfather. Don had an amazing tenor voice and played guitar and was known to break into song at any time.

Don’s love of his wife and family was only surpassed by his love for Jesus. Don surrendered to the call of ministry at age 40 and moved his family back to New Orleans where he graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with his Master of Divinity degree. After graduation, Don was called to pastor Shady Grove Baptist Church in Mize, Mississippi. Over the next 30 years he went on to pastor churches in Simpson, Leake, Lincoln and Rankin Counties. He also served as a Hospice Chaplain for many years.  Bro. Don had a great love for nursing home ministry, and he would take his guitar along with him and play for the seniors.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Paula Kleeb; children, Gretchen (Larry) Cagle of Clinton, MS; Brian (Courtney) Kleeb of Madisonville, LA and Sheridan Kleeb of Clinton, MS; grandchildren, Claudia Cagle, Carter Cagle, Peyton Kleeb, Joshua Kleeb and Chloe Parker; brother, Robert L. (Rosalie) Kleeb of Tuscon, AZ; sister, Victoria S. Nored of Dallas, TX; brother-in-law, Peter Cheney of Knoxville, TN and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Janet Cheney.

Rev. Kleeb was a huge supporter of the Gideon’s and had a great love for their ministry.  In his mid-twenties a Gideon Bible placed in a motel room led to a spiritual rededication that would lead to his call to service of the Lord. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in honor of his name to The Gideon’s International, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251 or www.gideons.org.