Hanne Flora Katz Klein

Hanne Flora Katz Klein, age 90, of Dallas, TX, passed away peacefully in her home on the afternoon of July 30, 2025. “Nana” or “Grandma,” as she was called by her 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, was born on November 3,1934 in Augsburg, Germany, to Erwin Walter Julius Katz (“Dada”) and Katarina Marie Landauer Katz (“Mama”). She was married to Jack Lopez Klein in New Orleans, LA, on June 1, 1953. Hanne, at age 4, and her parents left Germany on Dec. 28, 1938, roughly seven weeks after Kristallnacht. This was particularly significant and traumatic as her family were likely descendants of the original Jewish inhabitants of Augsburg, who dated back to at least the year 1212, and her close relative, Fritz Landauer, who designed the Temple in Augsburg that was burned (later to be rebuilt in 1985) on that tragic evening. Hanne was raised in New Orleans, LA, and studied at Sophie Newcomb College, which she suspended upon her marriage and subsequent move to Dallas, TX. Later in life she completed her studies with a BA from Texas Women’s University and MA in Sociology from Southern Methodist University. She was the first member of either hers or Jack’s family to receive a university degree. She continued for many years at SMU serving as a member of the faculty. Hanne was also Director of Public Affairs/Marketing for the Wadley Blood Bank and a freelance writer who was published in multiple publications including the D Magazine, Texas Highways, Family Circle, and the Dallas Morning News. In the public sector among her many areas of involvement she served as a speaker for the Panel of American Women, a group of individuals from various ethnic origins that spoke in front of multiple community forums addressing prejudices by allowing for open discourse on race, religion and culture. She was also a long-term member of Temple Emanu-el’s Board of Directors. Board Member of the Dallas Center for Holocaust Studies and volunteered for so many organizations including Jewish Federation, Dallas Independent School District, National Council of Jewish Women, and Dallas Center for Holocaust Studies. Her hobbies included tennis with her family, playing bridge with friends and knitting, which was highlighted by the blankets she created for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hanne is survived by her sons, Brian Katz Klein (Salt Lake City, UT), Kenneth Simon Klein (San Diego, CA), Jonathan David Klein (Austin, TX) and Craig Arthur Klein (San Antonio, TX): her daughter in laws, Victoria Owen Klein, Lisa Michelle Black, Melinda De La Fuente Klein and Margaret Gofman-Klein; her grandchildren, Alexander Owen Klein, Caroline Marie Klein, Gavi Helen Black Klein, Emily Rose Klein, Joseph Landauer Klein, Shayna Aliza Klein; her great grandchildren, Westin Katz Klein, Hudson Jack Klein and James Baker Klein: Alexander’s spouse, Janae Elizabeth Klein and Emily’s fiancé, Robert “Robbie” Joseph Levine. She is truly memorialized by her own words during her final week, “I have lived a full life.” In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Temple Emanu-El Foundation (https://www.tedallas.org/give/endowment/) or National Gaucher Foundation (https://give.gaucherdisease.org/).

Hanne Flora Katz Klein

November 3, 1934 - July 30, 2025