Klaus grew up in Austria in a time when Lutherans were still called occasionally "Ketzer" (=heretics). He learned to cope with the role of a person belonging to a minority (approximately then constituting 9% of the population). He did not know how the role of being an outsider prepared him for his further spiritual life. 

In his education, Klaus received good to excellent grades in High school and at university. On the side, Klaus competed in track and field events, like high jump, long jump, triple jump, 100m and 200m dash and 110m hurdles, He won three national titles (4x100m relay and twice 110m hurdles). It is noteworthy to mention that he introduced the Fosbury Flop to Austria (jumping backwards in the high jump over the bar) already in 1969, a technique that is used exclusively in this discipline nowadays.

But what to do with all the achievements, the good grades, the medals? What is a person's goal in life?

Next door in Vienna lived a man called Bob Kingsbury, an American who had a handicapped son and in spite of it he enjoyed life. As Klaus found out, he trusted Jesus, who changed his life completely. Bob lived the Gospel. One evening, one of his friends, Jody Dillow, spoke on creation science. This talk untangled the opposing positions of evolution and Genesis 1. Jody, being a theologian, explained the Bible to Klaus, what it means, what it promises (sometimes hardship on earth, but joy in the life after death). Jody became his spiritual mentor and friend. They maintained contact throughout the years and distances to this day.