Edward (Ed) James Klages passed away Friday, April 4, 2025. Beloved partner of Dottie Nauman for 36 years. Loving and supportive father to Karyn, David (Tracy), Nancy (Jeff) Roberts, and Tricia (Mark) Grebel. Proud grandfather of Olivia and Gavin Klages, Tommy and Kate Roberts, and Dominic, Alice, and Nate Grebel. Loving brother of Jackie Prebil and Kenneth Klages. Uncle, cousin and friend to many. Ed is preceded in death by his parents Gregory and Helen Klages, brother Robert Klages, brother-in-law Robert Prebil, sister-in-law Barbara Klages, and nieces Lynda Prebil, Amy Gray, and Tessa Purcell.
Ed was born July 30, 1941 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He proudly called himself an Okie despite moving to St. Louis, MO at the age of 3. He attended St. Francis de Sales for high school and Mizzou for college, majoring in Accounting. He was often seen wearing his Mizzou baseball hat, and he would tell people “I’m a Tiger.” He was a member of Phi Kappa Theta, and he enjoyed his lunches with his fraternity brothers for 60+ years.
He began donating pheresis in 1986 because he “needed something to do.” This became a calling for him, and he committed to donating 24 times a year. Ultimately, he made over 700 donations and he was named a top donor in the St. Louis area. His attitude towards donating was “if I can, why wouldn’t I?” In fact, this was his attitude towards many things: if he was able to help someone, why wouldn’t he help. He invested his time and money in helping hundreds of people throughout his life.
He valued his family above everything else, and he constantly showed his love. With Dottie, he would often bring her little “gifts,” such as Crown Candy milkshakes, QT cappuccinos, and fritters from The Donut Stop. He loved taking Dottie dancing and traveling to places near and far with her. He would call his adult children daily, “just to hear their voice,” and he would say the best days were when he was able to talk to all 4 of his children. With his grandchildren, he would tease them in a Donald Duck voice, and he would make his hand into a spider and have his fingers crawl across the table towards their hands just so he could hear them laugh. Ed would often admiringly talk about his parents and his brother Robert who passed before him, and he loved spending time with his sister Jackie and brother Ken. He was at every large family gathering, talking to his cousins, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, and after these gatherings, he would brag to everyone he talked to about all the successes his family members were having.
Ed never met a person he couldn’t have a conversation with. He would listen, ask questions, and often take a slightly different point-of-view, just to keep the conversation going a little longer. He would take 30 minutes when leaving a place because he would have in-depth conversations with multiple people while walking out the door. Greetings and departures often included a handshake, and Ed valued a strong handshake. He often took a moment to either compliment a person’s handshake, or with his grandchildren, to instruct them on proper handshake technique.
Ed loved his life and all the people in it. He would often say “if I wasn’t me, I would want to be me.” He was one-of-a-kind, and he will be greatly missed.
Services: Friends and family will be received from 9:00 am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at St. Mark Catholic Church, 4200 Ripa Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63125. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul or the charity of your choice.
i got to know Ed it the south city ymc, i was new to the neighborhood and would sit by myself over on the side sometimes after a workout and check my messages or just relax of course one day Ed waved me on over and I sat at that table meeting all these people every morning for the next few years until I moved away, I was not special, ed treated everyone like that, just a great guy! I hope the sweet memories of Ed will ease the bereavement of his family.
Karen, David, Nancy and Tricia-I am so sorry for your loss. Your Dad aka Uncle Ed was always so kind and warm. I am honored to have known him. Wishing you love and healing and hugs and joy as you reflect on the incredible life he led. Last week, I donated pheresis for the first time. I now have a record to beat 🙂 and a role model to follow. Praying for everyone and sending much love.
Ed and I go back 50 years, since we met at Laclede Steel. Over the entire time, we enjoyed all the lunches and dinners together, the jokes and good times, and of course endured the sad times. He and Dottie were among the most fun and enjoyable couples Laurie and I used to go out with. I will forever miss him and remember him as my “best buddy’.
On behalf of the Chaplain’s Department at Friendship Village, please accept our deepest condolences. We appreciate your sharing him with the Memory Care team here and trusting us with his care. Please know, “God is near to the brokenhearted.” Psalm 34:18
Ed was a part of a large and unique family tree-the Klages’es. All of our aunts and uncles were so close as a family (and the cousins also). Virtually every Friday evening we would all gather at Grandma Klages ‘es house for a meal and fresh baked bread. We visited friends in Prairie Du Rocher,Ill. several times every summer. Ed was as good a human being that you could hope to meet, always smiling and good to be with. A great cousin I will miss but I know I will see him and Bobbie in heaven.
Ed was a fraternity brother of mine but he and his brother Bob went to Mizzou and I went to Rolla. I knew Bob before I met Ed. Bob used to come down to Rolla for party weekends until he died in Vietnam. Then I started running into Ed at parties at Clank & Nina Wagners house. What a guy !!!
Very out going and always remembered you. Our paths crossed a few years ago in the lobby from the bridge at big BJC.
Good bye bro,..see you at the SHACK in heaven some day.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I knew Mr Klages as one of his Pheresis nurses at Barnes-jewish Hospital. He spoke of his children and grandchildren so proudly. He called me nurse Kelley. We would talk through out his Pheresis donation. Dottie would come up to visit with him during his donation. Mr. Klages was part of our Pheresis family. I am fortunate I was able to call this gentle soul my friend.
Teresa Kelley RN