Résumé

Service in the US Navy, 1950-1954. His obituary noted: "Allen joined the US Navy in 1950, serving as a reconnaissance photographer while stationed in California and Alaska. He was a champion in unit wrestling matches, and was honorably discharged in 1954." (See "Allen Jake Kleinsasser, Beloved Husband and Father," Tacoma News Tribune, 09/06/2015, p. B5.)

Draftsman, Ralf E. Decker, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1960. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1960, p. 903.)

Architect, Mattson, John I., and Associates, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1965-c. 1970. Kleinsasser joined the firm of John I. Mattson in 1965.

Partner, Mattson, Kleinsasser and Nakata, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1970. The firm had an office at 714 North 34th Street in 1970. (See "Mattson, John I.," American Architects Directory, 1970, John Gane, ed., [New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970], p. 607.)

High School/College

Graduate, Lincoln High School, Tacoma, WA, c. 1948. At Lincoln High, Kleinsaser took the English, history and drawing majors. He was a student leader, member of the Hi-Y Club, and President of the Letterman's Club, by virtue of his being a three-year varsity wrestler. His high school yearbook indicated that he would work after graduation and not attend college immediately. (See Ancestry.com, Lincoln High School Lincolnian Yearbook, 1948, p. 27.)

B.Arch., University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA, 1959.

College Awards

Recipient, Structural Clay Products Prize of $40. He won this along with Mrs. T. Fuhuan Ho of Brazil. (See "11 Architectural Students at U Given Awards," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 05/15/1959, p. 15.)

Relocation

Allen Jake Kleinsasser had roots in North Dakota, having been born in the tiny Wells County town of Chaseley on 11/25/1930, two days before Thanksgiving of that year. He resided with his family on a farm, near Delger, ND, according to the 1940 US Census. Three Kleinsasser families lived on adjacent farms, including those of relatives Andrew and Lidia Kleinsasser and their ten children and John G. and Katy Kleinsasser and their four children. Allen's mother died in 1937, leaving Albert Kleinsasser to raise his own five children. None of his relatives living on these three farms had attended school beyond grade 8. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Delger, Wells, North Dakota; Roll: m-t0627-03018; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 52-10, accessed 08/20/2021.)

During World War II, Albert Kleinsasser moved to Tacoma, WA, where Allen attended LIncoln High School. In 1950, his family lived at 518 East 29th Street in Tacoma. About two years after graduating from high school, Kleinsasser joined the US Navy during the Korean War and was stationed at San Diego for 12 weeks of training in 12/1950. (See "Eight More Join U.S. Navy Here," Tacoma News Tribune, 12/03/1950, p. 14.)

Shortly after his marriage to Sharon Wright, they lived at 3710 11th Avenue NE, Apartment #301, in the University District. (See Seattle, Washington, City Directory, 1960, p. 903.)

He resided in Bellevue, WA, from at least 1993-on. He died there on 08/27/2015 of cancer. He was buried at the New Tacoma Cemetery, Tacoma, WA, with other family members.

Parents

His mother was Maria "Mary" Decker (born 08/25/1906 in Spink County, ND-d. 07/1937 in ND) and father, Albert Kleinsasser (born 1897-d. 1993).

Mary's parents were were John M. Decker (born 06/02/1877-d. 06/13/1969 in Huron, SD) and Katharina Tschetter (born 09/24/1878-d. 02/28/1915 in SD)

His siblings incuded Bernice Kleinsasser Gillespie (born c. 1927 in ND), Willis Kleinsasser (born 01/11/1929 in ND-d. 08/14/2006 in Tacoma, WA), Ella M. Kleinsasser (born c. 1932 in ND) and Leslie Kleinsasser (born c. 1934 in ND) and Dallas Kleinsasser (who died as an infant).

Spouse

He wed Sharon Loa Wright (born 04/01/1939) on 03/28/1959 in Seattle, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: kingcoarchmc234305, accessed 08/20/2021.) They divorced before 1993. Between 1993 and 1996, at least, she resided at 6217 32Nd Avenue NE.

He married Linda Louise Morrison on 03/10/2002 in Las Vegas, NV. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Nevada, U.S., Marriage Index, 1956-2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007, accessed 08/20/2021.)

Children

He had four children by Sharon Wright: Kent Allen Kleinsasser (born c. 1961), Lisa Kleinsasser Clifford, Mark Kleinsasser and Kristen Kleinsasser Iscoa.

Biographical Notes

He was known as "Jack" Kleinsasser.

Another man named "Allen J. Kleinsasser" (born c. 1935), likely a relation, lived for many years in Rapid City, SD.)

In his later years, he became an expert bridge player.