Kline, Barbara Ann

Barbara Ann Kline, 73, died at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at West Liberty United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the church. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty.

Barb was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 24, 1936, the daughter of Harold and Hazel Romaine. She graduated from West Liberty High School with honors in 1955. While in high school she was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. Following high school she went on to graduate from Iowa City Commercial College. She worked as a private secretary for Dr. May, who was head of the Pediatrics Department at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. On April 16, 1958, she was united in marriage to Harold Kline in West Liberty. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2008. She was a lifetime member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church and the Eastern Star. Ron was born in 1959 and she decided to be a stay-at-home mom. A second son, Jim, was born in 1961. After the boys were in school she was asked to do tax work for attorney Bob Barclay. She later worked for Sterner and Dowler until retiring.

Survivors include her husband, Harold; son Ron, (Carol) Kline; two grandsons, Derek and Garrett Kline; sister, Shirley Young; mother, Hazel Romaine; and mother-in-law, Louise Kline. She is also survived by her cousins, nieces and nephew.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jim; father, Harold Romaine; father-in-law, Elmer Kline; and brother-in-law, Ray Young.

Barb's greatest joys were being a wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, traveling and being with friends.

 Memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus or the Holden Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City.

Online condolences can be made to the family at