Biography: Joseph Elkins Klein was born June 15, 1944 and died peacefully with his wife Lisa by his side on Friday, June 6, 2025, just 8 days short of his 81st birthday.
 
Joe was the eldest of four children born to the late Joseph S. and Marie Elkins Klein.  He and his siblings, Jim, Anne, and John, were raised at 2210 State Street in downtown Little Rock where he enjoyed a happy childhood and made lifelong friends.  Joe's family belonged to First Presbyterian Church.  Joe attended Rightsell Elementary School, East Side Junior High School, and he was, at the time, one of two non-Catholics at Little Rock Catholic High School.  He was a proud member of the CHS Class of '62, where he was a captain of the football team, a varsity basketball player, voted an Outstanding Senior, and was chosen for Boy's State.
 
Joe attended Hendrix College, then transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in order to complete his degree in Chemical Engineering.  He was a proud member of Sigma Chi social fraternity, and Theta Tau, an engineering fraternity.  Joe graduated from the University in 1967 and went on to get an advanced degree from New York University.  
 
Joe had a 37-year career in the chemical engineering field, 15 of those with General Electric.  His job led him and his family to live in 13 different states, plus Canada.  In Joe's words he "flunked retirement" so embarked on a second career in the security camera business in Fort Smith.  Joe was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Linda Louthridge of Fort Smith.  He was the proud father of two talented, smart daughters, Kristin and Carol.  
 
Joe moved back to his beloved Little Rock after meeting Lisa Rowland in 2020.  They were married in 2022.  He was so happy to be back amongst his childhood, high school, and college friends, and his life-long duck hunting and fishing buddies.  Joe had many, many friends around Arkansas and the United States.  He was a people-person, and "dog-loyal" to his friends.  Joe was generous with his time, and was in several lunch groups with old friends and new acquaintances in Little Rock.  He issued many invitations to his idea of heaven, the Tuf-Nut Hunting Cub ("The Tents") near Gillette, Arkansas.  Joe spent many joyful hours in the woods duck hunting and fishing for big bass in the cypress-ringed waters of Jacob's Lake.
 
A man of wide-ranging interests, Joe could expound at length about nearly anything.  In no particular order, among Joe's favorite topics were:  Catholic High, Sigma Chi, beer, Lisa, duck hunting, reading, dogs, fishing, the history of Little Rock, classical, old country, and bluegrass music, and most importantly, his family.  He was a self-proclaimed beer connoisseur -- never one to settle for light beer.  Joe deeply loved his daughters and their families, and embraced Lisa's children and grandchildren as if they were his own.
 
A dedicated community member, Joe served on the Catholic High Foundation Board, volunteered regularly at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church Food Pantry, and held memberships with Ducks Unlimited, the Ruffled Grouse Society, and was a proud supporter of the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation.   
 
When Lisa first met him, Joe was quick to mention that he grew roses, could recite poetry from memory, and was, in his own words, "the World's Best Wildlife Cook, if not the most humble".  He was known for his "famous" smoked salmon, and deer and duck recipes.  
 
Joe is survived by his daughter Kristin Robbins Klein and her son Dominic Sands of Colorado, and by Carol Klein Andolina and her husband Jon-Paul, along with their son Joe, of Bella Vista, Arkansas.  Dominic is currently a senior at the Colorado School of Mines; young Joe is a sixth grader in Bella Vista.  To both, he was simply "Grandad", and he was extremely proud of both of them.  
 
Lovingly dubbed "O-Joe" by his step-grandchildren, Joe is also survived by his wife, Lisa (Elisabeth Townsend Rowland of Little Rock), her four children and their spouses, and six (soon to be eight) step-grandchildren.
 
Joe is also survived by his many, many, many friends -- he considered them his family as well.  He loved them and made sure they knew it!
 
What a guy!  We will love you and miss you forever!
 
There will be a visitation at Ruebel Funeral Home from 5:00 - 7:00 on Thursday, June 12^th, 2025.  The members of The Tents will scatter his ashes on Jacob's Lake at a later date.  Memorials may be made in Joe's memory to Catholic High School, the St. Mark's Episcopal Church Food Pantry, or a wildlife organization. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com