Gerald R. “Jerry” Kline
LaCrosse – Gerald R. “Jerry” Kline, age 80, died Thursday, January 12, 2012, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas. He was born November 12, 1931, at LaCrosse, Kansas, to Edmond and Charlet (Schaffer) Kline. He married Mary Anne (Taylor) on April 24, 1952, at LaCrosse, Kansas.
He was a veteran of the U .S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. A member of the Second (Indian Head) Division Association, Hays American Legion, Hays V.F.W., and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, Kansas. He was raised in LaCrosse, Kansas and owned Jerry’s Tavern, Kline’s Radiator Repair, from 1953 to 1965 and the Wishbone Café all in LaCrosse, Kansas from 1965 to 1969. He was a Coordinator for Nickerson Farms and was a manager of Russell Nickerson Farms from 1970 to 1974. He moved to Hays, Kansas in 1973 He then worked for the State of Kansas/Health and Environment Department as a Food and Lodging Inspector for 17 years and retired in 1994.
Survivors include, his wife, Mary Anne Kline, of the home; one son, Mike Kline, Hays, KS; two daughters, Debbie Leiker and husband, Ron, Lyons, KS; Susan Willming and husband, Kent, Hays, KS; three sisters, Bernice Stegman and husband, Sy, Enid, OK; Shirley Urban, LaCrosse, KS; Eileen Love and husband, Jack, Great Bend, KS; four grandchildren, Lachelle Spann and husband, Shawn, Latasha Southern and husband, Bryce, Brett Leiker and wife, Andrea, Brian Leiker and wife, Kalie; nine great grandchildren, Nicole, Austin and Kelsi Spann; Brock Southern; Ashley, Brayden, Aubrey and Brody Leiker; and Jade Leiker. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother Gene Kline.
Services are 10:00 A.M. Monday, January 16, 2012, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, LaCrosse, Kansas. Burial in LaCrosse City Cemetery, LaCrosse, Kansas, with military honors by the Hays V.F.W./American Legion. A Vigil services is at 6:00 P.M. Sunday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays 1919 East 22nd Street Hays, Kansas 67601.
Visitation is from 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Monday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Memorials to Rush County Nursing Home, Rush County Memorial Hospital and Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Center.
Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].