Keith Owen “Kleink” Kleinknecht began and ended Sunday, July 26, 2015 surrounded with love.  

Keith was born on April 23, 1954 in Evansville, IN and raised in Orange, TX as the youngest son of Karl and Joyce Kleinknecht. He graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in 1973 and earned a Bachelors Degree from North Texas State University in Denton, TX.  Keith pursued his love of flying in two ways… earning his private pilots license and beginning his career as a flight attendant with Midway Airlines, Northwest Airlines and currently Delta Airlines. While working for Midway, he met the woman he would love and adore for the rest his life, Dawn. Together as flight attendants, they enjoyed their first date flying around Illinois after Keith had washed planes to afford the plane rental time. On August 25, 1990, at a historic bed and breakfast in Red Wing, MN, Dawn and Keith were united in marriage and family as Keith became a father to Nicole and Adam.  

In 1997, a dream was realized when they purchased a historic home in Hudson, WI. Together with family and friends, the 1882 home was restored and opened as the Baker Brewster Bed and Breakfast. After several years of hosting guests they sold the B & B and opened le THE’ European Tearoom. 

Keith loved spending time with his wife, family and friends and together they traveled the world. His other passion was golf. He believed the game of golf was a game of integrity with a clear set of rules. He played the game like a gentleman always in proper golf attire. Keith ensured his love for the game would continue through the many family members he coached and mentored. Beyond his love of travel and golf, he instigated laughter, fine tuned his art of collecting from antiques to Superman memorabilia. He also taught himself to play the acoustic guitar recently, with plans to entertain his family and friends. 

This is only a brief glimpse into the man we all loved and adored. His many layered personality will continue to warm our hearts, brighten our days and keep us in wonderful memories for our days to come.  In Keith’s typical jargon… “And for this reason