William M. "Bill" Klein

William Martin “Bill” Klein entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 10, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. He was born on October 13, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri to Elmer and Audrey Smith Klein. Bill graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas in 1972 where he lettered in basketball. He attended Oklahoma State University on a basketball scholarship, then transferred to The University of Kansas where he played basketball, was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity, and mastered the art of making martinis. After graduating from KU with a BS in Business Administration in 1977, Bill launched his career in flooring sales at LD Brinkman and several years later started his own flooring business The Commercial Source. In 1995, Bill’s career path led him to Information Technology as a Data Center Manager and Senior Engineer at New America Financial. He later joined Affiliated Computer Services/Xerox as Manager and Senior Engineer of Corporate LAN Services and was most recently a Senior Solution Architect at HCL Technologies.

Bill had a passion for flying. He performed his first solo flight on July 19, 1981 and earned his private pilot license in 1983. He became the proud owner of a Cessna 152 and a Bonanza A36 which he enjoyed using for family travel as often as possible.

Bill was known as an avid NASCAR fan and followed Jeff Gordon loyally for 15 years. He and his family were season ticket holders at Texas Motor Speedway and spent many weekends tailgating and watching the races with friends. He planned to start visiting as many tracks as he could around the country and had made it to Daytona, Kansas and Bristol. Bill was most often seen in either a Jayhawk or a Jeff Gordon shirt with the occasional Texas A&M polo worn out of respect to his wife and youngest daughter. Bill may not have been a NASCAR driver, but he loved cars and enjoyed racing his Dodge Charger SRT8 at Texas Motorplex.

Although he was an accident-prone handyman around the house, he persevered and always got the job done. He was on his way to becoming a pitmaster on his Big Green Egg, specializing in ribs and pulled pork. Bill was also a corny jokester who played the organ and enjoyed listening to classic rock and oldies. Bill loved dogs, especially Labrador retrievers, and his most recent companion, Abby, will miss him dearly.

A kind and friendly, patient and forgiving man, Bill never met a stranger, was quick to help friends and family in need, and built long-lasting friendships and bonds with people from all facets of his life. He was a longtime blood donor at Carter BloodCare and volunteer at Austin Street Center.

In 1990, Bill married the love of his life, Karen Pustejovsky, and they spent their lives together in Dallas. Despite Karen’s best efforts, Bill had been a reluctant beach goer for years because he wilted in the heat and was a mosquito magnet. However, after building their dream retirement home on the Texas coast in 2013, he finally grew to understand and appreciate the peace and tranquility the ocean could bring, and spent hours in the swing on the dock with his beloved dog by his side.

Bill is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all those whose heart he touched. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Karen; daughters Elizabeth, Emily, and Jennifer; father Elmer Klein; sister Ann Brasher and husband Eric; brother-in-law Mark Pustejovsky and wife Sandie; sisters-in-law Cheryl Pustejovsky; Cindy Belknap and husband John; Amy Rodgers and husband David; aunt Claudia Jones and husband Jerry; and several nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his mother Audrey Smith Klein.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 from 7-9 pm at Calvary Hill Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas, with the Rosary being recited at 6 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at 12 pm at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas, followed by burial at Calvary Hill Cemetery under the fight pattern of runway 13L of Dallas Love Field airport at his request.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s name may be made to the SPCA, Austin Street Center, or to a charity of your choice.

Go 24! Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!