Arthur Millier of the Los Angeles Times in 1922 was quoted saying of Kleitsch "he was a born colorist; he seemed to play on canvas with the abandon of a gypsy violinist". On November 16, 1931, at the age of forty-nine, Kleitsch died of a heart attack in front of the courthouse in Santa Ana, California. Two years after his death, Kleitsch's widow opened the Joseph Kleitsch Fine Arts Gallery in Laguna Beach.
Arthur Millier of the Los Angeles Times in 1922 stated about Kleitsch "he was a natural colorist; he seemed to paint on canvas with the freedom of a gypsy violinist". On November 16, 1931, at the age of forty-nine, Kleitsch passed away from a heart attack in front of the courthouse in Santa Ana, California. Two years after his death, Kleitsch's widow established the Joseph Kleitsch Fine Arts Gallery in Laguna Beach.