Klaus J. Gebhardt

Klaus J. Gebhardt was born September 5, 1945, in Waldkappel, Germany and died July 20, 2025, at 79 years of age in Plano, Texas.

The oldest of 4 siblings, Klaus emigrated to the United States with his family as a 5-year-old. Post-war Germany was not, in his father’s estimation, a safe place for raising a family. They left the family home, a short walk from the fortified East/West German border and settled in Columbia, Illinois where Klaus attended elementary school and his father practiced medicine.

Dr. Gebhardt ruled his household with Teutonic efficiency and believed boarding school the best option for building discipline and character. Klaus was enrolled at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana as soon as he was eligible. In addition to his general studies, Klaus excelled in playing the trombone and singing. Music would be a great influence on Klaus throughout his life.

Following his graduation from Culver, Klaus continued to serve as a reservist in the United States Army while attending MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967, followed by a stint at Saint Louis University School of Law.

Having trained under Lazlo Chabay, Klaus was a featured tenor soloist with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra and toured with the American Kantorei. It was through this connection with the St Lous Symphony that he came to meet Anita in 1970. Klaus was instantly smitten, and they were married that same year after a whirlwind romance.

Klaus and Anita moved from St Louis to Kansas City, Philadelphia, and New York City as Klaus continued to climb the corporate ladder at INA and then AIG. In 1974, Klaus and Anita welcomed their first child, Christopher.

Klaus accepted a partnership with a Dallas, Texas-based risk management consultancy in 1976 and moved the family to Plano, Texas. The family grew again in 1978 with the addition of daughter Julie, followed closely by Mary Ellen in 1979.

Although not his primary profession, music continued to play a role in Klaus’ life as he was in high demand as a tenor vocalist and soloist with prestigious musical groups around the Dallas area.

As Klaus’ professional career continued to take off, he and Anita made the move towards entrepreneurship and founded INTEX Management Company, Ltd, which became an umbrella organization for operations ranging from risk management consulting to operating an independent record label, website development and enterprise data services and more.

Klaus’ competitive spirit showed through in every aspect of his life and he was always looking for the next challenge. He wanted to be the deepest SCUBA diver. The fastest bicyclist. The best pilot. The most-engaged ballet dad. The grungiest biker. The best singer. The hardest worker. The tannest on the beach. The biggest eater. The healthiest fitness nut.

He was most proud of his three children and their families and rarely missed an occasion to regale a new acquaintance with their exploits and accomplishments.

Most of all Klaus had a good life, richly lived. Although in his later years he was impacted by severe neuropathy, the blood disorders essential thrombocythemia (ET) and myelofibrosis (MF), then vascular dementia, Klaus’ spirit rarely wavered. He will be widely remembered by his wide, infectious smile and eagerness for the next adventure.

Klaus is survived by his wife Anita Gebhardt, Son Christopher Gebhardt and daughter-in-law Rebecca, Daughter Julie Gebhardt-Smith, son-in-law Jeff and grandchildren Claire and Colin, Daughter Mary Ellen (Meg) Eberly and son-in-law Robert and grandchildren Katherine and Robert IV, brother Mark, sisters Claudia, Felice and Inga and stepmother Gitta. Klaus was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Ingeborg Mariana and father Dr. Frederick Willhelm Gebhardt.

A celebration of Klaus’ life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Custer Road United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to support the ministries of Custer Road United Methodist Church at crumc.org.