Tributes

John G. Klauss passed away peacefully with loved ones by his side, on April 4, 2023. He was 86 years old. John was born July 21, 1936 in Akron, Ohio to William J. Klauss and Emily Kraemer Klauss. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Betty Jean Heitkamp in 2012. Survivors include: daughter Bonnie Lynn Lester and husband Charlie of Livingston, TX. grandsons Wesley Burkholder [wife Haley] of Boerne TX; and Daniel Burkholder [wife Myranda] of Helotes, TX. great- grandson Stone Burkholder of Boerne TX. John graduated from Alamo Heights high school in 1954, and attended college at Texas A&M. John was the owner CEO of Greenlight Chemical company, a home and garden wholesale market. John's father, William J. Klauss cofounded the Klauss-White Co. in 1946. They changed its name to the Green Light Co., Inc. in 1960. William Klauss ran the company until the mid-1970's, and he died in 1982. John Klauss began work at the family owned Green Light company when he was 21 years old and worked there for 38 years. He began running the company in the mid-1970's, and he was the chairman of the board on February 1, 1993. John retired in 1994. On November 30, 1994, all of the stock of Green Light was sold to an employee stock ownership trust created by the employees of Green Light. In 1960, John's father bought 640 acres in the Hill Country of Bandera, Texas. After 2 years of raising cattle with no success, John and his Dad went on a joint adventure of raising exotic game. John loved the family ranch that he and his father owned in Pipe Creek TX for more than 60 years. He raised exotic animals and loved giving family and friends a tour to see the animals. John had the largest herd of African Whitetail Gnu at one time. He had several species of African animals, buffalo, camels, llamas, and many more. He had a herd of white buffalo. He had a Pygmy hippo named Harriet. In 2020, the exotic game had grown to 42 species and 500 plus heads total. John enjoyed life on his ranch in Cotulla for 20 years, with it's huge white tail deer. He enjoyed searching for arrowheads, which he kept in a large collection. He had a huge herd of African Watusi cattle on the ranch. John enjoyed hunting with fourteen trips to Africa. He enjoyed many fishing trips to Little Churchill in Northern Canada and Costa Rica. He loved his labrador dogs, especially the girls named Sue and Lil and his Papillon Skipper. He loved sports cars and proudly owned a Lamborghini, McLaren, Ferrari and a Rolls Royce. Special thanks to his lifelong friend and attorney Wayne Mathis of Kendalia. Funeral services were conducted at Mission Park North Cemetery. You may sign the online guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section. Please plant a tree in memory of John Klauss in lieu of flower arrangements.

Tributes

John G. Klauss

July 21, 1936 - April 4, 2023