LA CROSSE — Gerald R. "Jerry" Kline, 80, died Jan. 12 at Hays Medical Center in Hays He was born Nov. 12, 1931, at LaCrosse, to Edmond and Charlet (Schaffer) Kline. He married Mary Anne (Taylor) on April 24, 1952, at LaCrosse. He was raised in La Crosse, and owned Jerry’s Tavern, Kline’s Radiator Repair, from 1953 to 1965, and the Wishbone Café, all in LaCrosse, 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 in 1973. He then worked for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as a Food and Lodging Inspector for 17 years and retired in 1994.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Kline was a member of the Second (Indian Head) Division Association, Hays American Legion and Hays V.F.W., and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Mike Kline, Hays; two daughters, Debbie Leiker and husband Ron, Lyons, and Susan Willming and husband Kent, Hays; three sisters, Bernice Stegman and husband Sy, Enid, Okla., Shirley Urban, La Crosse, and Eileen Love and husband Jack, Great Bend; four grandchildren, Lachelle Spann and husband Shawn, Latasha Southern and husband Bryce, Brett Leiker and wife Andrea, and 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 one brother, Gene Kline.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Michaels Catholic Church, La Crosse. Burial will be in LaCrosse City Cemetery, with military honors by the Hays V.F.W./American Legion. A vigil service will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home and 9-10 a.m. Monday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Nursing Home, Rush County Memorial Hospital and Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net.