Patrick Kline

Patrick John Kline, 64, Kansas City, MO, passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital. He was born on July 25, 1940, in Green Bay, WI, to Alfred and Emerine Kline. He graduated in 1958 from Ferguson High School in Ferguson, MO. He attended Penn Valley Community College from 19741975, and received his Bachelor of Arts from Avila College in 1978. In 1963, he joined the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, where he worked for 30 years, finally retiring in 1993 at the rank of Major. As a police officer, Maj. Kline worked in almost every aspect of police work: Patrol, Traffic, Tactical (SWAT), Investigations, Helicopters, Records, and Administration. Patrick never was one for a leisure led retirement life, so he went to work as a Contract Fraud Analyst for the Postal Inspectors Service from 19982004. In 1996, Pat worked for the UN in Bosnia, training police officers in the town of Bugojno and monitoring for human rights violations. During his year there, he formed friendships with the Bosnian people that lasted long after his return to the states. During the summer of 1998, he brought twin Bosnian girls to the states to spend three months with his family. Experiencing the culture of war-torn Bosnia had a profound effect on his life, and reinforced his belief that a life should be lived helping other people. His love of travel spanned the gamut of solo motorcycle trips on the Alaskan Highway, to living in an apartment in Paris for two months. But possibly his greatest love was his career with the KCMO Police Department. There was no aspect of the job he didn't love and when asked upon retiring if he missed it he replied, "I would go back tomorrow if I could." Maj. Kline is survived by his wife Barbara; his sons Patrick and John; his daughter Kim Van Alst; his son Rick; and nine grandchildren. A wake will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, September 13, to be concluded with the Rosary, at Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost, Kansas City, MO. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 14 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Redemptorist Parish, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 6700 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS, 66204, or the KCPD Benefit Association, 1328 Agnes, Kansas City, MO, 64127. (Arr. Muehlebach Funeral Home, 816-4442060)