CARLISLE TWP. – In the latter part of his life, World War I veteran Edward George Klaus lived modestly in Lorain County before he died May 9, 1954, and was laid to rest in Brookdale Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Little is known about what Klaus did here, except that he lived for a time at the old Lorain County Home and also at his place of employment, the Empire Tavern.

But thanks to his great-nephew Greg Farino, Klaus was remembered Saturday in a solemn ceremony that included a three-volley salute, the dedication of a gravestone and the playing of taps.

Farino, of Riverview, Mich., told members of American Legion Post 12 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079 that they had given him a little peace.

“Thank You. Thank you. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me and I’m sure it would have meant a lot to him,” Farino said.

“Fourteen years is how long I’ve been searching for him,” Farino told the assembled veterans. “Fifty-seven years (without being remembered) is too long and that’s why I took it upon myself to do this for him because he deserved it.”

Ron Carr, commander of Post 12′s color guard, said the vets were happy to help.

Farino said he has been doing genealogical research for several decades now and the only thing family members said they knew about his grandmother’s oldest brother was that he was supposed to have died in World War I.

When he began searching genealogical websites and census records, he discovered that Klaus had survived the war.

Farino said the mystery remains about why his great-uncle remained out of touch with his siblings and what he was doing in Elyria. Anyone with information is asked to email him at powertekusa@yahoo.com.

Klaus was the oldest son born to Philipp and Elizabeth Stimper Klaus on Jan. 29, 1887, in Newport, Campbell County, Ky. He served as a private in Company A, 58th Ammunition Train during World War I.

Using genealogical websites, Farino found the first mention of Klaus in 1910 in Canton where he was listed as working for the Dueber Watch Co. That made sense because it was the same company Farino’s great grandfather, Philipp Klaus, had worked for.

He kept looking and the trail led to Elyria where Farino discovered his great-uncle’s burial location in August 2010.

With the help of the military, Farino arranged for a military marker for Klaus, one of 11 he has placed for soldiers over the years.

Farino said he’s a huge Civil War buff and dreams of finding a direct ancestor who fought in that war.

He said he is still looking.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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