Beloved Neighbor, Dearborn Resident Will Klieber Dies at 50

As neighbors go, Dearborn resident Will Klieber was among the best of them. He cut grass, helped with handy work, and–especially around Christmas time–made his neighborhood bright.

Klieber passed away suddenly this July. He was 50.

According to neighbor Debra Walling, "He was just going for a walk in the morning and, he’s 50 years old and his heart just stopped.

"It was very tragic.”

Neighbors remember him as someone who was always willing to help out, even without them asking.

Last winter, Klieber decorated 14 houses on his block of Highview Street with Christmas lights and displays.

But Jennifer Ellis, who lived three houses away from Klieber, said his generosity extended well beyond the Christmas season.

“(Klieber) was just a great guy, he’s really going to be missed,” Ellis said. “I’m going to really miss him. I talked him almost daily.”

She said he would often help neighbors with yard work, too.

“A lot of times he would be cutting his grass and then come right across and do the next three houses including mine.” “Just to be a nice guy.”

Specifically, Ellis said Klieber had recently been cooking for the 90-year-old neighbor across the street whose wife had recently been hospitalized.

“So he’s been sending meals over to him while she’s gone. He went and bought them flowers and planted the flowers for them,” Ellis said. “He just did anything and everything without even being asked.”

Personally, Ellis said she would swap cooking tips with Klieber.

“(Klieber) was a great cook so he would help me with recipes,” said. “I would borrow things from him or he’d give me advice.” 

Neighbors have organized to take care and water his garden and lawn, Ellis said.

Walling said he will be missed throughout the block.

“He’s just such an all-round fabulous guy (and) fabulous neighbor," Walling said.

Ellis said that Klieber was living with his mother, to whom Klieber was the primary care-giver.