Father Jim Klein dies Jan. 7 at age 66 due to heart ailment

By Veronica Ambuul

COLORADO SPRINGS. Father Jim Klein, who served as pastor of Divine Redeemer Parish for nearly a decade, died Jan. 7 at age 66 as the result of a heart ailment.

A rosary will take place Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 22 W. Kiowa St., followed by a funeral vigil at 5:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, followed by internment at Evergreen Cemetery.

James Joseph Klein was born May 14, 1958 in David City, Nebraska, one of five boys born to Kenneth and Angela Rose Klein.

He felt called to the priesthood as a third-grader, writing in a school paper that he “wanted to be a priest, a bishop, a cardinal and the first American pope.” He attended Southeast Community College and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, graduating with degrees in commercial art and advertising and journalism. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1990 to work for the Christian Booksellers Association.

In the midst of a highly successful career in marketing and advertising, however, he found himself once again thinking about the priesthood. He accompanied a group of young people to World Youth Day in Denver in 1993, where he was deeply moved by Pope John Paul II’s reading of the Gospel passage from Matthew, “The laborers in the vineyard are few but the harvest is very rich.”  He later recalled feeling that the Holy Father was speaking to him personally, saying “Klein, you, go!”

Guided by Father George Fagan, who was then serving as Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, in 1995 he enrolled at St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 2002.

His first assignment after ordination was as parochial vicar at Ave Maria Parish in Parker.

In 2005, he was named pastor of Divine Redeemer Parish, where he remained until 2014. In 2013, the Colorado Knights of Columbus named him Chaplain of the Year at their state convention.

“The award reflects the work he’s done as a parish priest and his ability to relate to each and every one of our parishioners in a humble manner,” said a representative of Council No. 4699 at Divine Redeemer.

He later served as parochial vicar at St. Mark Parish in Highlands Ranch and Holy Apostles Parish in Colorado Springs before being named pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Colorado Springs in 2018. He also served at the U.S. Air Force Academy and at St. Patrick Parish.  From 2023-2024, he served as pastor of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Limon, St. Mary Parish in Flagler and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Hugo.  He was granted medical retirement in July 2024.

Hearkening back to his journalism background, Father Klein frequently submitted letters to the editor and published commentaries in The Colorado Catholic Herald about various topics. In his spare time, he enjoyed taking care of his pet parrot, Beamer.

Father Klein is survived by his brothers, Dr. Gary, John, Dennis and Dale, all of whom reside in Colorado.