Carolyn Alice (Lean) Kline

Carolyn Kline died Thursday April 28, 2022, in Kalamazoo. She was born April 24, 1939, in Chicago, IL, daughter of the late John and Carol (Hawksley) Lean.

Carolyn moved at an early age with her family to Sturgis, MI and graduated from Sturgis High in 1957. On January 30, 1960, Carolyn married James E. Kline and cemented a lifelong love affair. A passionate educator, she graduated from Western Michigan University in 1960 and started her teaching career. Carolyn then earned her MS in 1977 from WMU; both of her degrees were cum laude. Many in Climax-Scotts will remember her as a teacher and reading specialist in that school system. She was a member of the Service Club of Kalamazoo. In her retirement Carolyn continued to serve the Portage and Kalamazoo communities by teaching family education and parenting.

In later years, she and her husband Jim spent winters in Florida where she served on the local board of directors and several social committees, and assisted in the development and maintenance of a magnificent butterfly garden. She was raised in the Episcopal church and was a member of St. Barnabas in Portage, MI. A lifelong lover of music and theater, she sang with several choirs. Her passions for education, personal development, music, theater, art, baking, travel, and life in general were shared with her husband of 62 years and passed on to her children, grand-children and a great-grandson - all of whom will miss her every single day.

In lieu of flowers or monetary donations, Carolyn would ask you to think of the greatest blessing you received from her and share it with the world.

She is survived by her husband, James. Also surviving are her children, Catherine (Kent) Bieberich, James (Carolyn) Kline, Jr., and Christine Kline Mitchell; grandchildren, Valerie (Arthur) Brannon, III, Caitlin Anna (Zack) Cagley, Adam Kline, Corey Kline, and Cameron Kline; great-grandson, Theodore Cagley; sister, Joan (David) Rauch; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2pm Saturday May 28, 2022, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 929 E. Centre Ave, Portage MI 49002. There will be a brief reception immediately following in the church's fellowship hall. Arrangements entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th St, Kalamazoo MI 49009. To view Carolyn's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com