K.L. “Kay” Klaumann was born in rural Republic County, Kansas, on November 13, 1934, to Leonard Charles Klaumann & Tillie Lee (Morgan) Klaumann.

He graduated from Belleville High School in 1952, and then attended KSU & Fairbury Junior College. He married Marcia A. Wichman in Fairbury, Nebraska, on June 26, 1955. The couple are parents of two daughters, Teresa Kay (born in 1956) and Michelle Anne (born in 1959.)

Kay owned and operated an insurance agency and a community bank during his adult working life. He was also a farmer, a pilot, a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks, Belleville JayCees, the Belleville Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. #129, Order of Easter Star, and other various organizations concerned to his business career. Kay served as a member of the Belleville City Council, the Belleville Flyers, as well as owning and operating the Aero Auto Mart dealership in Belleville. He was instrumental in bringing the Kansas Junior Miss Pageant to Belleville, and served as the president of that board for many years.

He loved spending time on his farms, caring for his pets and cattle herds. He thoroughly enjoyed playing pitch with his friends.

Kay passed away on December 1, 2020, in Newton, Kansas, after a long struggle with Lewy body dementia. He is preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Phil Purinton, and sister-in-law Margaret Wichman.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marcia, daughter Teresa Klaumann and her husband Brian Vazquez of Topeka, Kansas, daughter Dr. Michelle Klaumann of Bullhead City, Arizona, and granddaughters Bailey & Lorna Vazquez.

Private, family graveside services were chosen, and will be held at Belleville City Cemetery. Friends may sign Kay’s book at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020, from 9am – 4pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Golden Bell Haven, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Family and friends unable to attend the services are encouraged to express their condolences on the Tribute Wall of Kay’s obituary page on the funeral home website, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville assisted the Klaumann family with these arrangements, www.tibbettsfischerfuneralhome.com