Klaus Wolfram Lachmann

Klaus was born in Kloster Arnsburg. Germany and lived in Buedingen, Germany until age nine. On 19 November 1956 he immigrated to the United States and lived in Brooklyn, New York until moving to Lawrence County, Tennessee 1958, where he attended school and lived and worked on a cotton farm.

After high school Klaus joined the United States Army in 1965 and on completion of training was assigned to the Berlin Brigade in Germany. His duties included patrolling the Berlin Wall and performing intelligence work in East Berlin. In August of 1967 he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in Vietnam. He participated in campaigns in Bong Son, Hue (Tet 1968), Khe Sahn and Ashau Valley. After Vietnam he served with a NATO headquarters near Heidelberg, Germany. He was a decorated veteran and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to his discharge in 1969.

Klaus met his future wife Doreen Gorayeb of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada while on a weekend in Paris, France. They were married on 4 July, 1970 and lived in Flint, Michigan where Klaus was a Deputy Sheriff and also attended college. Later Klaus worked in the paint finishing industry for 33 years building automotive and industrial finishing systems.

In 1988 the family moved to Crystal Lake, Illinois where Klaus joined a German Paint Systems Company. He retired as the General Manager of the company's Industrial Division in 2005. Klaus had several U.S. and International patents for various painting machines.

Klaus and Doreen had two sons, Christopher and Brian. The boys played ice hockey from a young age through high school. Klaus and Doreen were involved in coaching and management. They were partners in the P & L hockey pro shop in Waterford, Michigan for several years. Klaus and Doreen also owned KADEE Stamps which sold stamps to collectors in Michigan. Sadly, Doreen succumbed to colon cancer in 1996 after a four-year illness which was a very difficult loss for the family.

Klaus married Pamela Margaret Sayers in Sedona, Arizona in October, 2000. In 2005 they retired to Salem, Oregon to be near Klaus's children and grandchildren. In 2014 they moved to Columbia, Tennessee to be nearer to parents and siblings. Klaus had hobbies including painting, genealogy, stamp collecting and hunting. His most prized possession was his United States Citizenship Certificate. Klaus was a 100% disabled veteran and was a member of the DAV, VFW, American Legion, 1st Cavalry Division Association, 12th Cavalry Regiment Association, and the Berlin United States Military Veterans Association. Klaus was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

His wife Pamela Lachmann of Columbia, Tennessee, his son Christopher Lachmann (Wendy) of Happy Valley, Oregon and son Brian Lachmann (Andrea) of Woodinville, Washington and grandchildren Dietrich, Elena, Amira, Ava and Koen survive him. As well as step daughter Bonnie Sayers Ungaro (Cory) and two grandchildren Layla and River Ungaro of Crystal Lake, Illinois and stepson David Sayers of Hammond, Louisiana. He also has one great-granddaughter, Veronica. His brother Alan Keener and sisters Darlene Keener Gaines all of Leoma, Tennessee and brother Ronnie Sylvester of Venus, Florida, all survive him. Also, several nephews and nieces and many cousins, especially in Florida, Canada, Arizona, Tennessee and Germany, also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth Biedenkapp Keener, wife Doreen N. Lachmann (nee Gorayeb), his grandparents Georg and Lina Biedenkapp, sister, Charlotte Keener Shane and his uncle Dieter Biedenkapp.

Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, July 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM at St. Peters Episcopal Church with Father Chris Bowhay officiating. Burial will follow at St John's, Ashwood. The family visit with friends on Monday from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.