Kenneth D. Klein

Klein, Kenneth D., 71 of  Lake St. Louis, MO (formerly of Topeka, KS), passed away on Thursday, November 4, 2010.

He enjoyed a long and prominent career as executive  director of both the state (Kansas) and in major metropolitan (St. Louis) Bar Association and their respective charitable foundations.  He retired from the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis in 2006 after nearly 25 years there and 13 years at the Kansas Bar where he began as the youngest director of the Bar and Association in the nation.  Prior to that he served as publicity manager and legislative agent with Kansas Power & Light Co and the investor-owned utility industry after beginning his career as a newspaper reporter for Stauffer Publication, Topeka.

Klein served in the forefront of growth and innovation which brought both associations a total of over 20 national awards.  He was instrumental in creation of programs and services which became national models adopted or replicated by many other Bar Associations including the American Bar Association, and by Bar foundations.  He pioneered many "first of their kind" third party marketing arrangements between bar associations and corporations including the first Bar Association affinity credit card program in the nation which became one of the largest non-dues sources of revenue for associations in the country.

He initiated many other programs benefiting the legal profession and the public, winning 10 national awards in nine years, and served as a speaker or program producer for many national programs.  His commitment to excellence in association management and volunteerism won him the National Association of Bar Executives top award for professionalism in association management, and was reflected in service as president or board member of many organizations and chair of several national professional association committees.  He was a founding member and president of the Kansas Society of Association Executives and a Distinguished Charter Fellow of the St. Louis Bar Foundation.

He was born April 10, 1939 in Topeka, the son of Edgar and Theresa Klein.  He graduated from Hayden High School and received his BBA degree from Washburn University of Topeka.  He served in the US Navy in San Diego and aboard the destroyer USS Radford, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ed Klein in 2008, and his mother, Theresa Klein, in 2009.

He is survived by his son, Mark Alan Klein, grandson Joshua Alan Klein and granddaughter, Abigail Rose Klein, all of Plano, TX; his daughter Paula Whitney Donovan, and grandsons Conor James Donovan and Matthew Patrick Donovan, all of Orlando, FL; and his former wife, Ramona Rose White, New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Services: The family is being served by The Baue Funeral and Memorial Center, 3950 West Clay Street, St. Charles, MO where visitation will be held  4:00-7:00 PM Sunday, November 7, 2010, where a rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM.

In Topeka, visitation will be at 10:30AM;  preceding a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at Mater Dei's Holy Name Catholic Church, 10th and Clay.  Interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Josephsville, MO, or Mater Dei's Holy Name Catholic Church, Topeka, KS, and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603.