James Halden Kline, 83, of Clinton died 8:45 a.m. Sunday (July 28, 2013) in his family residence.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Clinton United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Stephen Killion officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Private burial will be at a later date in Texas Township Cemetery, Clinton. Memorials: Clinton United Methodist Church or Weldon Springs Foundation. Send condolences: www.calvert
memorial.com.
James was born July 6, 1930, in Stonington, the son of Fred O. and Naomi Hollingsead Kline. He served four years in the Air Force during the Korean War. He graduated with honors from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1958, and went to George Williams College in preparation for a career at the YMCA. After serving at the Duncan YMCA in Chicago and the Joliet Y, he was the executive director of the Clinton YMCA for many years. After retirement, he worked as a safety engineer during construction of the Clinton Power Plant. He also raised Standard Bred race horses on his farm near Clinton. He was a member of the Clinton United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Weldon Springs Foundation, a member of the Harness Horseman’s Association, AM-Vets, former member of Kiwanis, active in the Englewood, Fla., Methodist Church Methodist Men and Fun Bunch. He was a member of the DeWitt County Farm Bureau and enjoyed many summer trips with them. In his Y work, he helped found and act in the Y Players, formed Y youth basketball leagues with cheerleaders, Y Day Camp and organized the building of the gym, handball courts, exercise room, etc. He greatly enjoyed his family, friends, his horses, fishing, Farm Bureau trips and winters in Florida. He married Betty L. Mieher on Jan. 29, 1956, in Bloomington.
Surviving are his wife; sons, Dr. Kevin (Marla Smith) Kline of Champaign; Steven (Tracy) Kline of Glen Ellyn; James R. “Jamie” (Katy) Kline of Crystal Lake; grandchildren, Benjamin Kline, Julia Kline, Jocelyn McCulley, Kylen McCulley, Zachery Kline, Chelsea Kline, Joanna Kline and Jarod Kline; great-granddaughter, Lydia; sisters, Darlene Brown of Duluth, Ga.; Maris Shake of Mount Pulaski.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved daughter, Rebecca “Becky” McCulley; brother, Fred O. Kline Jr.; sister, Elouise Castell.
