Posted by Bob Balderson on December 10, 1999:

Jeff Kleb was my friend. Our friendship was bonded by a very special cement--the love of singing. More specifically, singing barbershop harmony. We were both members of the Cadet Chapel Choir and the Glee Club, and I had the pleasure of singing in two quartets with Jeff. The first was in the Glee Club, we were called "The Four Harmonizers," and the other two members were Bob Johnson and Joe Moss. By the way, Bob, Joe and I were all ushers in Jeff's first marriage to Jo Ann. The second was at Leavenworth. We were called "The Chiefs of the Staff," and the other members were Fred Myer and Jim Ferguson ('65) Jeff and I formed a barbershop chorus from our C&GS classmates and we would rehearse a few times a week at the lunch hour. We even put on a show for the class, as I recall. Jeff and I used to drive over an hour to St. Joseph, MO once a week to rehearse with the Pony Expressmen Chorus who were district champions that year and were going to compete in the Barbershop Society International Contest. I competed, but for some reason Jeff couldn't. We had great fun! Jeff struggled with an addiction problem and it finally got the best of him. We struggled with it together. I was in regular contact with Jeff, via phone, although we hadn't seen each other since the 30th. Every couple of months I'd call him or he'd call me, sometimes late at night. We stayed in touch and I'm glad for it. I'm glad I was there for him when he needed to talk and to know that someone was there to listen--something we all need--understanding and compassion. I last spoke with him just before the reunion, and was hoping to convince him to attend, but couldn't. His struggles are over. "Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!" Hamlet,V,11 I'll miss Jeff--he was my friend! Bob Balderson

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