Martin Tyler Kline

Martin (Marty) Tyler Kline, age 61, passed away in his sleep at his home in Port Richey, FL on Saturday, November 19th. Marty was the 3 rd son/3 rd child of six born December 5 th , 1960 in Vandalia, IL to his late mother Barbara (Burkett) Kline and late father Gary Kline. He was married for a short time and a proud father to his only child, Ms. Sara Kline (daughter).

Upon his birth, Marty was gifted with a quick and sarcastic sense of humor and will be fondly remembered as the family ‘pot-stirrer’ (to put it politely) who constantly pushed back on rules and regularly tested our parents’ patience. Marty was a highly creative and artistic person who, at one point, was famously known for his immaculate and perfectly-appointed homes.

He spent most of his professional career in the services industry, but also had a passion for music and dancing. In fact, for several years he took jobs as a deejay and built quite a following of fans as well as a highly-coveted album collection. Through our maternal grandmother, Marty was also blessed with a green thumb – he could make anything grow and usually had a jungle of sorts in and around him wherever he lived. Speaking of that, Marty lived all over – NYC, Las Vegas, Boston, San Francisco, Miami and commonly returned to his homebase of Chicago. However, once in his 40’s and after our parents were gone, he preferred Florida’s milder climate which paired perfectly with his green thumb.

As inherent animal-lover, Marty had many pets through his life, and we take great comfort in knowing that he will not only be back with our parents and grandparents, but also with his beloved Meeko (Clumber Spaniel – dog). In recent years, Marty’s health declined, but his zest for life kept him going and he spent his last decade with his longtime roommate/companion Ms. Pat Kanski.

While we never be able to fill the void that he has left, he will always be remembered as a dedicated son, ornery brother, devoted father, fun-loving uncle and loyal friend. Marty’s passing is a sad occasion, but we truly hope that everyone who loved him will take the time to reflect on their fondest memory of him and smile. Our hearts and family will never be the same, but we are truly grateful that we were able to have and love him for a time, albeit briefly.

Marty was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, grandparents and several friends, but is survived by his daughter and siblings: Scott Kline (IL), Bobbi Reiter (IN), Alana Consevage (IL) and Kelly Kester (MD), as well as several nieces/nephews, aunts/uncles, cousins and numerous friends.

Due his unexpected passing and the many miles between us all, Marty’s burial will be scheduled for the summertime (his favorite season) in Iuka, IL, where he’ll be buried by our mother and other family members.

For anyone who’d like to make any type of contribution in his memory, please share your generosity with a local animal shelter or children’s hospital.