Stanley Klein

SUN PRAIRIE - Stanley Klein, born June 15, 1931, passed away on October 4, 2026, in Sun Prairie, Wis. Stan was the oldest of seven children born to Carl and Edith Klein. Stan graduated from East High School in 1950, and married the love of his life, Donna (Bender) Klein on January 13, 1951. They raised their three children in Madison, Wis., while he worked for the Dane County Sheriff’s Department until his retirement in 1986.

After a tour of duty in the U.S.  Army, Stan Klein worked a short time in a sheet metal shop, became a Town of Blooming Grove Police Officer in 1953 and in 1959 became a Dane County Deputy Sheriff. He began his career as a deputy sheriff working various duties starting in the jail, then on the road and mostly on the late shift.

One morning Sheriff Jack Leslie called Stan into his office and told him he would go on days and be responsible for setting up a property and evidence system, plus work in the lab, which at that time was used to process mug shots. He would also respond to cases where evidence could be an issue.

Already being a photographer doing weddings and having completed a correspondence course in fingerprint and related evidence studies, he had finished a fingerprint classification course at Watertown Police Department. After getting this assignment Stan was sent to Chicago PD to work with their Field Evidence Officers. He then spent an internship at the Wisconsin Crime Lab, of which the eight years assigned to the lab were the most interesting part of his career. Stan had been a Charter Member and President of the Wisconsin Identification Association allowing him to have contacts throughout the state for new methods and problem solving in addition to attending many autopsies and court appearances.

Stan was promoted to Captain and placed in the Internal Operations Division which consisted of Bailiffs, Lab, Records and the Communication Center. In that capacity he helped develop a vehicle crime scene unit. A consulting firm came in and evaluated our records system, eliminating all records that were not the responsibility of the Sheriff's Office.

During that period of time student uprisings began which was new to all of us. The Milwaukee County Sheriff Deputies taught us how to use batons. The then Chief Deputy, Reynold Abrahams told us to develop a better way to handle arrest situations. The end result was having a three-person squad move into the area where the arrests occurred, photograph the law enforcement person with the arrestee and give details on a 4x5 card and the thumb print on the back of the card. The arrested person was then escorted to the jail. Time averaged three minutes on arrival to leaving. Other agencies were also taught to do the same. Toward the end of these uprisings, Sterling Hall was bombed by a truck loaded with fertilizer and fuel oil. Evidence Technician Dave Niemann and stan were assigned to this crime scene along with the Wisconsin Crime Lab. Two days later the FBI took over the investigation as Sterling Hall housed the Army Math Research Center making it a federal crime.

In 1972, Sheriff Leslie appointed Stan as Chief Deputy after Chief Deputy Abrahams died. Stan then attended the Southern Police Institute. Upon returning, his first job was to eliminate the Special Deputy Program used by previous Sheriffs. Stan began a program of Jail Chaplain and Field Chaplain with help from Captains Josephson and Kiefer. Pastor Luke Simonson became Jail Chaplain and Pastor Lowell Mays became Field Chaplain. This became a very important program in helping victims and survivors of crime cope with traumatic situations.

Stan became President of the Dane County Chiefs Association which met monthly in different police areas. Communications was the major issue and was the beginning of talk of a 911 center. A major accomplishment during this time period was starting the Precinct Program. It was felt that response time in the southeast section of Dane County took too long. The Town of Pleasant Springs, in that sector of the County, told the department they could use part of their Town Hall as a precinct. The Sheriff's Department and the Dane County Traffic Department had just merged. Lt. Eldon Gard, a former Traffic Department Lieutenant, was chosen to open this precinct using both Sheriff and former Traffic Department personnel. Today, Dane County has three precincts.

When Stan was President of the Wisconsin Sheriff and Deputy Sheriffs Association he, along with others, helped get Legislation giving the Wisconsin State Patrol Officers equal Law Enforcement authority. After Stan retired from Dane County, he began working with David M. Griffin Associates as a consultant. At this position Stan made recommendations to various departments to improve their operations. He was impressed with Portage Count-vs work schedule of seven on and seven off. Fresh overtime came from the group that was off. Sun Prairie PD had the best property and evidence system.

One issue Stan does not agree with is that many departments are eliminating deputies in their jails and are using Correction Officers that are not law enforcement certified. They are expected to work to age 65. Most jail inmates today are much younger and are no match for grandpas and grandmas. Training can also be an issue.

Stan very much enjoyed his years with the Dane County Sheriff's Office and was very proud to say he was a Deputy Sheriff, even though he had to take vacations in February. Habits are difficult to change and he kept taking vacations in Florida in February. In his free time, Stan enjoyed family time, camping, bowling, biking, reading, exercising and playing cards.

Stan is survived by his wife, Donna; his children, Debbie (Roger) Mork, David Klein (Diane) and Karen (Stuart) Gilbert; grandchildren, Kim (David) Timler, Dan (Holly) Gilbert, Joe (Lindsey) Gilbert, Cale (Alycia) Klein, Matt (Stacey) Gilbert, and Chelsey (Trevor) Clark; great-grandchildren, Dan, Amerie, Jazlyn, Teaghen, Damon, Cayden, Carson, Randy, Jacey, Jack, Maverick, Cobie, Brooks, Harper and Brady; great-great-grandchildren, Atlas, Arlo and Alora; siblings, Marge, Tom and Bill; plus many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Loretta; brothers, Eugene and Roger, and granddaughter, Annie.

A funeral service will be held at LAKE EDGE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 4032 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2026, with Pastor Justin Dittrich presiding. It will be followed by a graveside service at Roselawn Memorial Park Chapel, Monona. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and again at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.

The family extends their thanks to Talamore Senior Living, Agrace HospiceCare, Stan’s wonderful CNAs, Tracy Kealy and Kay Hauser, R.N. Mary Ann Daily, and his neighbors, Donn and Barb Renning and Stan Otis. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Stanley was a very blessed individual and we are all very fortunate to have been in his life. May he rest in peace. Love you always!

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420