Bernard (Barney) Alois Klaus, Sr.

11/10/1923 - 6/21/2014

Bernard (Barney) Alois Klaus, Sr., 90, of Belton, MO, died at Kansas City Hospice House on June 21, 2014.

He was born in Kansas City, MO on November 10, 1923 to Wally (Bauer) and John N. Klaus. He grew up in Greenwood, MO, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1941. He attended Ohio State University where he was a member of The Ohio State University Marching Band before being called up for service with the U.S. Army in 1943 and was with the first troops to land on European shores following the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The troops of which he was a part landed at Cherbourg and became members of Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge and the ultimate conquest of Germany.

After the war, he spent another year at Ohio State University, before returning to Greenwood and with his father and brother began expansion of the John Klaus & Sons Greenhouse, owned by the family. Land was purchased in Belton and it became the second rose farm owned by the Klaus family as Klaus' Rose Farm. They were Missouri's finest rose grower of premium cut roses since 1919.

He and his late wife, Barbara, raised six children, Patte Klaus Schreihofer, Joanne (Frank) Galbrecht, Barney (Peggy) Klaus, Jr., Barbara (Dennis) Carson, Rosie (Dean) Huffman and Joe (Beth) Klaus. He also has fourteen grandchildren and two step-grandsons. They are Kelly and Julianne Schreihofer; Diane, Frank, Jr., Thomas (Gabby), Paul and Molly Galbrecht; Christopher Klaus, and the two step- grandsons John and Rich (Katie) Downs, Becky (Coty) Shipe; Jeff (Angela) Carson; Steve, Scott (Jenny) and Katie Huffman and Amanda Klaus. There are also eleven great-grandchildren. Other survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, John Klaus, and wife, Shirley, their daughter Suzanne, and her husband, Willie Luebbert, all of Lake Winnebago and a very special friend of 23 years, Dodie Maurer.

Barney was a well- known tractor puller for many years and was known as someone who could "fix" anything. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 24th from 5 pm to 8 pm at St. Sabina's Catholic Church (Belton) with a rosary at 5 pm. The Funeral Mass will be at 10 am on Wednesday, June 25th at the church. Burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery will follow. Donations may be made in his name to St. Sabina Catholic Church or Kansas City Hospice House. A lunch will follow at St. Sabina Church Hall following the burial. Arrangements: Langsford Funeral Home 115 SW 3rd St. Lee's Summit, MO 816524-3700

Bernard was a member of the marching band in 1942 and 1946. He played trombone.