Otto F.
Klieve
- A visitation will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026 from 11:00am – 12:00pm with a service to follow at 12:00pm at OUR SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH 5901 Westway, Greendale, WI 53129. Burial will follow at Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery 13235 W Capitol Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 (Meet in green area at 1:30pm).
Otto Fredrick Klieve was taken peacefully to heaven on August 6, 2026 after a growing constellation of health issues.
Born February 20, 1930, to Edwin and Julia (nee Burchart) Klieve, Otto was baptized and confirmed in the faith at Siloah Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Of his neighborhood, church and school pals, one young lady, Joan Miller, became a special friend. Their relationship grew through high school, while Joan attended Rufus King and Otto went to Boys Tech.
While Otto continued his education at UW-Madison he and Joan were joined in holy matrimony on August 16, 1952. After graduation with a degree in engineering Otto interviewed with Du Pont, GM, and Oilgear. And in 1952, he began his career with Oilgear in Milwaukee. After a year the couple and baby Jeffrey moved to the Cleveland, Ohio area where Otto was a salesman for the company. During these years in Ohio the family grew to include John, Patricia, and Daniel.
So far from Milwaukee, the Klieves fashioned “family” from each church they joined. Otto was active in church serving as Sunday School superintendent, youth group counselor, in a variety of leadership positions and he and Joan participated in the couples’ club.
In 1971 company promotions brought Otto and the family back to Milwaukee. He served Oilgear as Chief Engineer, Chief Operating Officer and ultimately retiring as Chief Executive Officer in 1995. After retirement, he served several years as a consultant.
Throughout his life, church was always central to Otto and his family. They joined Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Greendale, where he was active in Bible studies, served in various church offices, and played in the handbell choir. Otto kept Christ as the center of his life and family.
Otto and Joan enjoyed travel, from exploring the USA in tents and campers with the kids, to summer stays at the family cottage, to international travel, to cruises, to wintering in Florida. In retirement, the couple also pursued jewelry making, taking classes at MATC for many years.
Otto Klieve was preceded in death by his parents; the love of his life Joan, after nearly 72 years of marriage; and sons Jeffrey and Daniel.
Those remaining to love and miss him are his daughter-in-law Jane, son John (Charlotte) and daughter Patricia (Brian) Rebholz, grandchildren Ben (Mindy), Anne (Thom Lappas), Joanne (Janine Mercer), Nathan (Danielle), Stephanie (Chris) Anderson, Melissa Rebholz (Renee Drews) Katelyn (fiancé Andrew Nicholson) and Justin (Mikayla Grabowski-status pending); great-grandchildren Jeffrey and Zoey Klieve, Claire and Jakob Anderson, Finley and Otto Klieve and Namyah Beal; sister-in-law Barbara Miller, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A funeral service to the glory of God will be held Friday, August 21, at 12 pm. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service. Both will be at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church 5901 Westway, Greendale, WI.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Harbour Village, Harbour Place and St. Croix Hospice for their care and kindness.
Memorials may be made to The Word Today mission of Our Shepherd Lutheran Church.
I remember your dad first from glen haven dr to the Franklin home. Your parents were the best. . You kids played badeball on the empty field between our house. Patty and Dan I remember the most .so sorry about your Dad. A really sweet person.
Having been a long time Greendale realtor, I helped with selling the real estate for Otto and Joan when they lived on Glenhaven. Plus our paths crossed at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. They were the nicest, kindest, people you would ever meet. Peace and blessed memories to the family.
I have spent many years with Otto at The Oilgear Company as his Vice-President for Human Resources. He was an excellent person to work with, and he encouraged new ideas for Oilgear prosperity. I remember that I could go into his office, and as busy as he was, he was willing to stop and listen to my proposals for human resources. I know that The Oilgear management as well as the field of engineers, office workers and those in the shop had a very high level of respect for him. I felt a personal relationship with him both managerially and spiritually. I wish that I could attend the funeral visitation, but health issues keep me back.
W. Marq Stankowski, Ph.D. (Oilgear: 1974 – 1997).