R. Allen Klein, 86, passed away February 25, 2024 at Country Living, Home Plus of Larned.
He was born April 19, 1937 in Great Bend, Kansas, the son of Charles Roy and Gertrude Louise (Saxton) Klein.
Allen was raised on the family home place west of Burdett and graduated from Burdett High School in 1956 as president of his senior class. He attended Fort Hays State University, where he met Joyce Rodine Kessler. They were married on January 26, 1958. She passed away on October 21, 2000. On February 2, 2002, he married Bonnie (Badger) Neeley in Rozel. She passed away October 9, 2019.
Allen was president of the Burdett Blue Ribbon 4-H Club; served on the Burdett Co-op board for thirteen years; helped start the Triag Co-op and was president of it for one year. He served on the Big Bend Water Board for seven years and on the Keysville Twp. Board for several years. Allen was president of the Burdett Alumni 2015-2017.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960, he resumed farming in the Rozel area. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, first in Burdett and later in Rozel. He was chairman of the Administrative Council in Rozel for fourteen years.
Allen was predeceased by his parents, grandparents Harry and Gertie (Kilborn) Klein and Hugh and Emma (Keller) Saxton, his wife Joyce and his wife Bonnie.
He is survived by four siblings: Kendall (DeeLores) Klein, Atwood, Lyn (Faye) Klein, Hays, Nila (Don) Walker, Hays, and Neva Klein, Wichita. He and Joyce are the parents of four children who survive him: Tim (Norene) Klein of Wamego, Kansas; Randy (Debbie) Klein of Paola, Kansas; Jol (Sherri) Klein of Wamego, Kansas, and Marta Klein of DR-Congo, Africa; nine grandchildren: Tasha (Brad) Rice, Oree (Allison) Klein, Caleb (Jami) Klein, Josh (Stephanie) Klein, Seth (Kayla) Klein, Micah (Lauren) Klein, Gabby (Daniel) Jensen, Mollie (Patrick) Hobbs, Jacob Klein; ten great grandchildren, Oren, Joyce, Jax, Hattie, Jackson, Olivia, Isabella, Oliver, Kessler, and Kenan.
Funeral will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 1, 2024 at Valley Community Church of Burdett, formerly Burdett United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Beckwith Mortuary with family present from 6-8 p.m. Burial will be in Brown’s Grove Cemetery, Burdett with Military Graveside Rites.
Memorials may be given to the Allen Klein Family Scholarship (for Pawnee Heights High School graduates) in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.