Coming from a family with little, he went to school in second-hand clothes, and recalled them being hard times.
"My clothes stank and I was bullied for most of my school years."
While he shied away from talking about an upbringing with no frills, his parents and his two siblings have been beneficiaries for as long as he could remember.
He received a degree in computer science, then travelled in his early 20s.
It was when he landed in New Zealand he felt the most at home.
"For me, Germany felt like a cold place with a strong focus on capitalism, where the chase for more money and status often overshadows what truly matters.
"Everything here in New Zealand is approached in a more relaxed way, and I find that people are much more genuine and caring.
"It made me reflect on what really matters in the end: is it our achievements or our kindness?
"I wanted to embrace a lifestyle that values connection and compassion, which is why I chose to make New Zealand my home."
Kindness came naturally for Klar. Last month he posted on a public Facebook page that he had hundreds of spare blooming dahlias in his garden that he wanted to give away to a child raising money for ski lessons.
"I’m not the most talkative person and social situations can be a challenge for me ... there are days when I don’t talk to anyone at all.
"I find ways to connect through my work and hobbies, which help me express myself and bring a sense of peace and satisfaction."
Klar has been in New Zealand for five years.
"My first visit to New Zealand was intended to be a short two-week holiday, but I fell in love with everything about it and decided to stay."
While he sought a "relaxed lifestyle", Klar fits in his 40-hour week of engineering into four days.
On the other three he is creating and building steel sculptures as a side dish to make money and bring him joy.
"My first attempt at sculpting was about five years ago, and I primarily work with corten steel, as it blends beautifully into our environment.
"I draw inspiration from nature and my surroundings, which has led me to create a variety of pieces, including birds, stags, "moongates", flowers, and most recently, pine cones."
Woodworking and artistic projects were where he found fulfilment, blending precision with creativity.
Some of his sculptures sell for up to $16,000. Not bad for a few solid weeks of work.
But again, he did it for love and the money was an added bonus, he said.
"It depends on the complexity of the piece. Some take weeks, others take a month. My sculptures are priced for people who appreciate craftsmanship and quality.
"At the end of the day, I’m not chasing success in the way most people define it. I just want to create things and give back, enjoy the small moments in life."
Klar visited his family once a year. His parents were proud of the way he has made a life and name for himself.
Looking back on how his life could have turned out and seeing two siblings living week-to-week of benefits, he was grateful for the life Wānaka and New Zealand had provided him.
"We all encounter hardships in life. There comes a time when something happens that you may wish you could change, but ultimately, you can’t.
"Where focus goes, energy flows. While what’s wrong in life is always available to see, so is what’s right."
