Klaus Hugo Horst Pauleit's Obituary
Klaus Hugo Horst Pauleit passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 4th, 2024, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 76.
Klaus was born on May 1st, 1947, in Dörverden, Germany, to his parents, Horst and Irmgard Pauleit (deceased).
Klaus is survived by his wife, Diane Pauleit; his son, Nicholas Pauleit (wife Elizabeth); his grandchildren, Anna, Caroline, and Bridget Pauleit; his brothers, Dieter Pauleit of Hamburg, Germany, and Horst Pauleit (wife Philippa) of Wellington, New Zealand; and his stepchildren, Clayton Smith (wife Eiko; children Junko and Ayako Smith) of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Celeste Smith of Brooklyn, New York (children Julian and Noah Bozzano).
Klaus spent his childhood in the small town of Dörverden, Germany. He was a huge soccer fan and quickly accepted the then West-Germany national team as his own; a love affair that would last a lifetime. Klaus knew everything about the players, as well as their wives, girlfriends, and anything found in the tabloids.
In 1964, Klaus began his career in the cotton business through an apprenticeship in Bremen, Germany, as a Cotton Forwarding Agent in connection with the Bremen Business School. In Bremen, he added another soccer team, Werder Bremen, that he would cheer on for the remainder of his life.
In 1968, after his apprenticeship, he served the required military duty in the former West-Germany Army. After the military, it was back to cotton, where he would spend his entire 50-year career.
In addition to Bremen, Klaus worked for companies in Asuncion, Paraguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dallas, TX; Lubbock, TX and Bakersfield, CA.
In 1976, at the age 29, Klaus moved to Dallas, where he met his first wife, Gayle Peck. He added the Dallas Cowboys to his collection of beloved “football” teams. In 1981, Klaus became the proud father of Nicholas Hugo Horst Pauleit. In 1985, the couple divorced, but remained friends for the rest of their lives.
In 1996, Klaus married the love of his life, Diane. On their first date, Klaus told Diane, “I am going to marry you.” And he stayed true to his word. The two were the perfect pair, always found together, all the way until the end.
Klaus could often be found dining at Henk’s European Deli & Black Forest Bakery or Kuby’s Sausage House in Dallas. He never missed watching the FIFA World Cup or the Dallas Cowboys. He followed Werder Bremen religiously, as well as all the movements within the Bundesliga. Klaus would always call his son after Boston College football losses, less so on their rare victories.
In 2013, Klaus retired from Toyo Cotton Company, where he had worked for almost 20 years.
Klaus was very social and friends to many. He loved keeping up with people and updating others on his conversations. Klaus was the communication hub for the Pauleit family across the world. He loved being the “Opa” to his three granddaughters and singing them German nursery rhymes.
The last decade, Klaus battled Parkinson’s disease, and within weeks of his death, he was diagnosed with the later stages of dementia. His wife, Diane, was by his side, caring for and comforting him daily, as the Parkinson’s and dementia did their worst. Klaus will be dearly missed, but always remembered.
The family would like to thank the teams at Presbyterian Village North and Faith Presbyterian Hospice for their love and care.
We invite family and friends of Klaus Pauleit to join us for his memorial, Friday February 16th, at 2:00pm, at Restland Memorial Chapel.
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