Klaus Bruno Jockwig

It is with great sadness that the family of Klaus Bruno Jockwig, 95, of Asheville, North Carolina, announces his passing on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the John F. Keever Solace Center, following complications from hip surgery.

Klaus was born on January 18, 1931, in Neisse, Germany, to Elfriede Margaret Grundman and Bruno Paul Jockwig. In 1950, at just 19 years old, he left his parents and his older brother, Dieter, to come to the United States in search of a brighter future. He arrived in New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2). Sponsored by his aunt, Klaus attended night school to learn English while working as a tool and die apprentice. Through hard work and determination, he became a United States citizen and later graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

In 1961, Klaus met the love of his life, Virginia Ann Kuniskis, in Rochester, New York, and the two were soon married, beginning a partnership that would span 64 years. In 1964, they moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where Klaus accepted an opportunity to help establish Alliance Carolina Tool & Mold. He served as Chief Engineer and later Vice President, contributing greatly to the company’s success for 46 years.

Klaus is survived by his devoted wife, Virginia “Jean” Jockwig; his daughter, Christina Ann Jockwig of Smyrna, Georgia; and his granddaughter, Alexandra Jockwig of Dunlap, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Eric Jockwig of Springfield, Illinois.

Klaus and Jean were among the founding families of St. Barnabas Catholic Church, first attending when it was a small mission church in Arden, North Carolina. Their faith and commitment to the church community remained an important part of their lives.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Brent Skiver and the staff at Messino Cancer Center for the compassionate and excellent care provided during Klaus’s final years.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church on Friday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m. A private graveside service will follow that afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America https://alzfdn.org/donate/

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is honored to be assisting the Jockwig family.