Duke Joel Klein,74, longtime Idaho Falls resident and art teacher in School District #91, passed away at home on November 15, 2017, from prostate cancer.  He was under the care of Hands of Hope Hospice.

Duke was born to Albert R. Klein and Lois I. Biesecker Klein in Boise, Idaho on December 29, 1942, the oldest of 6 children.  He grew up in Boise, attending schools there and graduating from Boise High School in 1962.  He attended Boise Jr. College, Boise College, and graduated with a BA in Art Education from Boise State University in 1971.

On January 4, 1966, he married L. Maxene Higginson in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.  They moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1971 to start his teaching career.  They were blessed with 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl.  Duke taught at Central Jr. High, Eagle Rock Jr. High, and at Idaho Falls High School, for a total of 34 years.  He always said that he was not a great artist, but that he had the ability to motivate and inspire young artists to be better than he was.  He had thousand and thousand students during that 34 years.  Duke had a great talent to teach others.

Duke was a life time member of the Idaho Education Association and National Education Association and was active in the organization all his professional years of teaching.  He served on many local committees, elected as Vice-President and President of the Idaho Falls Education Association. He served one term on the IEA Board of Directors and many years on the Regional Board of Directors.  He was a delegate to the State IEA Delegate Assemble for many years and attended the national NEA Delegate Assembly 2 years.  He also served as a member of School District #91 Insurance Committee for 28 years.

He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings over the years; Elder Quorum Presidency, High Priest Group Leadership positions, assistant ward clerks, ward clerk at four different times to four bishops, teacher in Sunday school and Young Men.  He served a full time mission in the Bavarian Mission in southern Germany, a stake mission, and ward mission leader.   He also served as a counselor in a Bishopric. But the highlight of his church service would be the 9 years he and his wife served as ordinance workers in the Idaho Falls Temple after his retirement in 2005.

Duke was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife, Maxene of 51 years; 5 sons:  Eric (Mary) Klein of Las Vegas, Karl (Sheryl) Klein of Las Vegas, Reed Klein of Roundup, MT, Mark (Camille) Klein of Idaho Falls, Todd Klein of Idaho Falls; and 1 daughter: Lisa (Randy) Jones of Sterling, CO; 23 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. His siblings:  Bette (Jim) Deveraux of Chesterfield, VA, Lola (Alan) Ferkovich of Saratoga Springs, UT, Anna Patterson (Curtis) of Phoenix, AZ, Karen Redford of Reading, PA, and Bruce (Monica) Klein of Maple Valley, WA.

Duke always said he wanted his artwork displayed at his funeral.  So, if you have a picture he did and want to share it, bring it to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made in Duke's memory to Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, or online at https://donate.huntsmancancer.org/give .

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Kearney 2nd Ward, 1860 Kearney, with Bishop Brett Memmott officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 24, 2017 at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street and one hour prior to service at the church.  Interment will be at Lincoln Cemetery.