Norman Kline

TRAVERSE CITY — Norman Ainsworth Kline, 83, of Traverse City, died Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at Grand Traverse Pavilions.Norman was born Friday, Oct. 14, 1927, to the late Norman and Bessie (Ainsworth) Kline in Corry, Pa. He attended various rural schools and graduated from Corry Senior High School in 1945. He then entered the U.S. Navy on June 8, 1945, in the V-5 Pilot Training Program. He would serve in the Navy until July of 1946. On Oct. 29, 1948, Norm married the former Evelyn Harris.In 1952, Norm graduated from the University of Detroit, and then worked in the architectural office of Alden B. Dow in Midland for nine years. He moved to Petoskey and then to Traverse City, where he was a founding principal in the architectural firm Graheck, Bell, Kline and Brown (GBKB). He retired in 1993 after 28 years with the firm.Norman and Evelyn were parents of four sons, Norman Dennis, of Traverse City, Steven Jeffrey (Julia), of New Orleans, Randall Harris (Janis), of Traverse City and Jonathan Ainsworth (Gina), of New Orleans. He was the proud grandpa of Katarina Vita, as well as three step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.Norm was active in Boy Scouts and its Order of the Arrow, and served as scoutmaster for nine years in Midland, and various council positions in Traverse City. In Traverse City, he was a member of the zoning board of appeals and the city planning commission for 12 years, serving as chairman for four years. Norm was also a member of Rotary of Traverse City, and served on the Rotary Charities Board for six years, and as its president in 1993. He sang as a member of the Rotary Chorus. He served on the National Ski Patrol, earning the National and Senior ranking.Norm was a wood craftsman; gardener; enjoyed fishing; and was a sailor. He served as commodore of the Grand Traverse Yacht Club in 1993. He served in various programs at Central United Methodist Church, where he was a member. He also volunteered for several years at the Traverse Convention and Visitors Bureau. As a registered architect, Norm served on various state boards including the AIA board in 1961, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards in 1982. Norm was very proud of his involvement in helping to make Traverse City an "All American City" in 1980, when he was serving as Mayor.Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at Central United Methodist Church, with Pastor Chris Lane officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at the church.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to the Building Fund for the Bayside Senior Center.Please share your memories and thoughts with the family at Norm's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.comThe family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Norman Kline

August 20, 2011