We celebrate the life of our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Dorothy Ann (Brandenburg) Kleikamp. "Dot" passed away peacefully January 13, 2026 at the age of 92 at her Tallgrass Creek home in Overland Park, Kansas.
Born in 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland, Dot was the daughter of Catherine "Kitty" and Carroll "Pete" Brandenburg and older sister to Thomas Brandenburg.
While Dot was the age of 19, she was introduced to Ralph Kleikamp at a USO dance, who was serving the United States Navy. Dot and Ralph were married on December 11, 1954. They raised four children: Susan Martin (Cliff Martin - deceased); Pamela Lavene (Dale Lavene); David Kleikamp (Donna); and Jim Kleikamp (Ann-Marie). Dot was a loving grandmother to Kim Canter, Kevin Lavene, Natalie Reiss, Trevor Kleikamp and Jack Kleikamp as well as great-grandmother to Preston, Bradley & Kyle Canter, Nathaniel & Adam Lavene, and Owen Reiss. Her children's memories are of a thoughtful, loving mother who poured into their childhood, taking them to parks, picnics, teaching crafts, volunteering at their schools and spending every moment to give them ideal childhoods.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, brother and husband. In 1975 Dot and Ralph moved to the Lakewood community of Lee's Summit, Missouri, where they lived for the next 20 years. They had an abundance of close friends with whom they shared lake time on the pontoon boats, as well as hosting an annual tennis tournament. Dot was always the most gracious hostess, welcoming friends and neighbors to the many events that she and Ralph arranged.
Some of the fondest memories were from Ralph & Dot's Beer & Brats. This annual event, held every August, spanned over 30 years, brought together hundreds of friends and family. It is more than a joy to reminisce how Dot orchestrated such a wonderful event, sharing her home and welcoming attitude to so many.
They spent their retirement years in Tucson, Arizona, honing their golf skills while making a new set of lifelong friends. In 2014, Dot and Ralph, missing the Midwest, moved to Tallgrass Creek in Overland Park, Kansas, to be closer to the family. Dot quickly made many friends with her involvement in many card groups, yoga, pool
exercise groups, and the Treasure Chest. On Bingo nights, most often, she was sure to be one of the winners! Some of her favorite activities were her work with the Tallgrass library, working jigsaw, crossword and Sudoku puzzles. The "Dorothy" club at Tallgrass Creek will certainly miss her kindness and warmth. She was generous in spirit as well as giving, as she continued Ralph's legacy of gifting to Wounded Warriors and many other fine organizations.
As a final charitable gift, Dot has donated her body to the Gift Body Program at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
Born in 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland, Dot was the daughter of Catherine "Kitty" and Carroll "Pete" Brandenburg and older sister to Thomas Brandenburg.
While Dot was the age of 19, she was introduced to Ralph Kleikamp at a USO dance, who was serving the United States Navy. Dot and Ralph were married on December 11, 1954. They raised four children: Susan Martin (Cliff Martin - deceased); Pamela Lavene (Dale Lavene); David Kleikamp (Donna); and Jim Kleikamp (Ann-Marie). Dot was a loving grandmother to Kim Canter, Kevin Lavene, Natalie Reiss, Trevor Kleikamp and Jack Kleikamp as well as great-grandmother to Preston, Bradley & Kyle Canter, Nathaniel & Adam Lavene, and Owen Reiss. Her children's memories are of a thoughtful, loving mother who poured into their childhood, taking them to parks, picnics, teaching crafts, volunteering at their schools and spending every moment to give them ideal childhoods.
Dot was preceded in death by her parents, brother and husband. In 1975 Dot and Ralph moved to the Lakewood community of Lee's Summit, Missouri, where they lived for the next 20 years. They had an abundance of close friends with whom they shared lake time on the pontoon boats, as well as hosting an annual tennis tournament. Dot was always the most gracious hostess, welcoming friends and neighbors to the many events that she and Ralph arranged.
Some of the fondest memories were from Ralph & Dot's Beer & Brats. This annual event, held every August, spanned over 30 years, brought together hundreds of friends and family. It is more than a joy to reminisce how Dot orchestrated such a wonderful event, sharing her home and welcoming attitude to so many.
They spent their retirement years in Tucson, Arizona, honing their golf skills while making a new set of lifelong friends. In 2014, Dot and Ralph, missing the Midwest, moved to Tallgrass Creek in Overland Park, Kansas, to be closer to the family. Dot quickly made many friends with her involvement in many card groups, yoga, pool
exercise groups, and the Treasure Chest. On Bingo nights, most often, she was sure to be one of the winners! Some of her favorite activities were her work with the Tallgrass library, working jigsaw, crossword and Sudoku puzzles. The "Dorothy" club at Tallgrass Creek will certainly miss her kindness and warmth. She was generous in spirit as well as giving, as she continued Ralph's legacy of gifting to Wounded Warriors and many other fine organizations.
As a final charitable gift, Dot has donated her body to the Gift Body Program at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Kleikamp, please visit our flower store.
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