[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    TRIBUTE TO THE LATE JANE KLEIN, LENEXA, KS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 27, 2009

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the late Jane Klein, a member of the Lenexa, Kansas, city council, who 
died on April 5th.
  As the District Attorney for Johnson County for twelve years and as 
U.S. Representative for the Third District of Kansas since 1999, I came 
to know Jane Klein well. A dedicated public servant and community 
volunteer, she made the city of Lenexa and Johnson County a better 
place to live for her friends, neighbors and family members. I am 
placing in the Record an article published in the Kansas City Star that 
announced her untimely death and reviewed her achievements as a public 
servant and concerned citizen. The Star obituary also captures her 
sense of enthusiasm and effervescent personality, which will be sorely 
missed by all who knew her. I join with the leaders of the Lenexa 
community in paying tribute to this energetic, active leader, and with 
her many friends and family in mourning her loss.

               [From The Kansas City Star, Apr. 7, 2009]

             Lenexa City Councilwoman Jane Klein Dies at 70

                           (By Dawn Bormann)

       When the forecast called for heavy snow, Lenexa City 
     Councilwoman Jane Klein usually had a crock of chili 
     simmering and cinnamon rolls rising for the street crews.
       On other days she baked cookies for police officers and 
     often dropped goodies off with firefighters, her children 
     said.
       Klein--hailed as a Lenexa cheerleader by constituents, 
     political insiders and the rank and file--died Sunday. She 
     was 70.
       Her death came days before Klein was expected to sail 
     through Election Day unopposed. Instead, supporters, family 
     and friends planned a Tuesday night victory party at a Lenexa 
     watering hole.
       Klein was a mother to five children, grandmother to nine 
     and great-grandmother to two children. The Irish Catholic 
     woman saw to it that her children knew the importance of 
     giving back to the community.
       It was easy to learn from the stalwart public servant. She 
     was elected to the council in 2001 and 2005 by the residents 
     of Ward 1 for consecutive four-year terms. She had previously 
     served on the council from 1983 to 1995. Klein had lived in 
     Lenexa for more than 40 years and devoted 20 years to public 
     service as a councilwoman.
       ``We are deeply saddened by the news of Jane's passing,'' 
     Mayor Mike Boehm said. ``Our community has lost a dear friend 
     and long-time leader. Jane's passion for this city and our 
     citizens was extraordinary; she always had the community's 
     interests at heart in all that she did. Our thoughts and 
     prayers are with Jane's family.''
       Klein was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer about six 
     weeks ago. So when the council woman sent word that she 
     wouldn't make it to the city's March 17 meeting some might 
     have assumed that she was too sick. Good friends knew better.
       ``The heck with the cancer--she was not going to miss St. 
     Patrick's Day,'' said fellow City Councilwoman and friend 
     Diane Linver. ``She was 100 percent Irish and boy you knew 
     it.''
       During Klein's tenure, the city moved forward on several 
     projects including City Center, ``rain to recreation'' and 
     road projects like the 87th Street.
       Knowing public safety was of utmost importance in the 
     suburbs, Klein was an unabashed supporter of the fire and 
     police forces.
       The councilwoman might have been a strong Irish woman, but 
     she would not engage in divisive politics, Linver said.
       ``She was never a negative force. You would never hear a 
     negative word come out of her mouth about another city 
     council member,'' Linver said. ``She would find a way to give 
     her opinion but still be the kind and gentle and decent 
     person that she was. We should all emulate that.''
       Linver suspects her gentle nature and genuine love of the 
     city were among the reasons that few challengers stepped up 
     to run against Klein.
       ``People respected her and they knew that she cared about 
     her constituents and she knew so many of them,'' Linver said.
       Klein was active in many clubs all over town. She 
     volunteered again and again to be the VFW Post 7397 Auxiliary 
     president. She stepped up for church committees and was a 
     Kiwanis Club member.
       Klein instilled a strong sense of public service in her 
     children, too. As youngsters, they helped sell poppies and 
     often accompanied her on trips to the veterans hospital in 
     Leavenworth.
       At the holidays they knew there was always room for 
     another. Anyone without family or a place to go for the 
     holidays was instructed to show up at the Klein household.
       ``We always had an orphan clause,'' said Klein's daughter 
     Susan German. Her work in the community did not go unnoticed.
       In 2006 Klein received the coveted ``spirit of the 
     chamber'' award from the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. It was 
     an award she held dear.
       ``Mom loved Lenexa. She loved serving the people of 
     Lenexa,'' her son, Doug Klein said. ``She loved seeing the 
     city grow.''
       Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. with rosary at 8 p.m. 
     Monday at Holy Trinity, 9150 Pflumm Road. The funeral will be 
     at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity.

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