Earl was an early advisor to the company and was invited to be a member of our first formal Advisory Board (at the time Hanlon Manufacturing Company), in which we had routine meetings at our Burnsville, MN offices with all advisors to provide them updates on the company and to gain wisdom from their knowledge and contacts in their various industries. In essence they were like our first Board of Directors.
Earl was a longtime partner at Arthur Andersen, at the time one of the leading US accounting firms. I first met him in 1993 when scouting for accounting firms, and wanted to start at the top and actively recruited him and his firm to work with our company, (he's also listed in the book Riding The American Dream). I was looking for a motorsports gearhead leading an accounting practice in a top national firm...Earl was the guy to recruit. He joined our Advisors and also Arthur Andersen became the company that conducted all our audits, including the first year of operations in 1993...which he would remind me was the smallest company that his company worked with. He was investing in the future with his heart and soul, and over the course of the years he provided invaluable wisdom, and leads from his rolodex and vast knowledge. With his connections and steady hand on the throttle, he was a great help to the company.
Earl liked fast cars, and had a new Saleen Ford Mustang. He was a modest man, and over the years we stayed in touch and his progressing long term illness finally enveloped him.
Here is his obit:
Klein, Earl: Lived a good life and touched the lives of many. Born to Earl Sr. and Helen Klein in December 1945, Earl was raised in Crystal, MN along with his three siblings. He graduated from Robbinsdale High School in 1963. He attended the University of Minnesota for two years. His grades were so low that he lost his military draft exemption and joined the Air Force. After discharge, he returned to the U and graduated in '71 with a BSB-Accounting and a much-improved 4.0 GPA.
Earl had recently met and married the love of his life, Joyce Peterson. He joined Arthur Andersen & Co. and spent twenty-nine years there, twenty as a Partner. He was Head of the Firm's Minneapolis Audit Practice for many years and particularly committed to supporting women in public accounting at a time when they were in the distinct minority. Shortly before Earl passed, news of his illness spread among former coworkers. He was overwhelmed to learn how many lives he impacted through his professional career. A former colleague wrote, "I would want my legacy to be in which I deeply touched someone's life in a monumental way. Please let him know he did that for me and he will forever hold a special place in my heart."
Earl was deeply committed to community service. He served on the Boards of Washburn Child Guidance Center, Children's Theater and the U of M Accounting Advisory Council, including terms as Chairman of each.
In 1997, Earl was diagnosed with Inclusion Body Myositis, a rare degenerative muscle disease. He elected early retirement, moved full time to Carlsbad, CA and joined the Board of The Myositis Association where became Board Chairman. Earl was particularly proud of his daughter Jenna. After attending college in Maine, she met her husband Glenn Jonsson and settled in Freeport. Joyce and Earl spent eighteen summers in Maine where they could be near their grandchildren, Anders and Macy. He was a one-of-a-kind grandfather: he was a confidant, cheerleader, nickname giver, chess teacher, optimist, financial literacy teacher and more.
As Earl became increasingly disabled in his final years, Joyce became his loving caregiver. The two had a beautiful relationship and they navigated this difficult journey with grace. Earl passed away on September 6th. He is survived by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, sisters Carol Kleinhenz and Dianne Noriega and brother Chuck Klein and their families. The family plans to hold a gathering in his honor in Minneapolis in 2021 (date TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Myositis Association of America. myositis.org/donate
