Friends remember character of 'Den's' manager
Daniel S. Kline
Daniel S. Kline, 23, at his sister's wedding. Kline was a West Lafayette resident and familiar face on Chauncey Hill. (Note: Died 2013)
Wake & Funeral Arrangements
Wake
Today 5 to 7 p.m.
First United Methodist Church located at 1700 W.
State Street, West Lafayette
Public Gathering of Friends
Today 9 p.m.
Jake’s Roadhouse & Garage located at 135 S.
Chauncey Ave., West Lafayette
Funeral
Open to public with a meal to follow the service
Saturday 2 p.m.
First United Methodist Church located at 1700 W.
State Street, West Lafayette
Posted: Friday, August 30, 2013 10:00 am | Updated: 11:03 am, Fri
Aug 30, 2013.
No one who knew him can easily forget his presence. His absence will leave a
hole in this community; West Lafayette has lost one if its most cherished
citizens.Daniel Stewart Kline, 23, was in an accident involving only his car Sunday morning. He was found alive but critically injured on the side of I-65 in his 2006 Hyundai. The car had been driving in the northbound lanes about 4 miles from the IN-38 exit near Dayton, Ind.
Preliminary reports by the Indiana State Police suggest Kline lost control while passing a semi-truck and headed off the east side of the road into a steep embankment. His car rolled at least once into a heavily wooded area.
Kline passed from head and internal injuries at IU Health Arnett Hospital at about 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Kline was a familiar face around Chauncey Hill Mall, having previously been a doorman at Harry’s Chocolate Shop and employed part-time at Jake’s Roadhouse and as assistant manager at the Discount Den. Many who may not know his name did know his smile and charm.
Garret Ney, a former roommate, had no trouble offering his take on Kline’s character, in the playful way reserved for a close friend to observe. Ney’s words were reflective of Kline’s free-spirited and free-wheeling nature.
“Daniel was an irreplaceable and unavoidable source of light, a complete goof, and just the raddest pal any dude could ask for,” Ney said. “I’m beyond heartbroken.”
Joe Fitzpatrick, another former roommate, feels as if he has lost a brother.
“He was quintessentially spontaneous, vibrant,” Fitzpatrick said. “He had a vitality that was ... disarming. He made friends out of everyone ... You didn’t pass time with him. You made memories, you went on adventures, you lived stories you knew you’d tell later.”
Anne Anthony, a close friend and a former neighbor, recalled a Kline of many dimensions. He was a humble but talented artist who downplayed his abilities. He was a naturally proficient athlete at any given sport. He was an endearing friend with a kindred and young spirit evident in his cheerfulness and the way he would become excited for so many things.
“Anyone close to him knows the feeling of being with him,” Anthony said. “He was just fun to be around, and there really is no other way to put it.
“I feel like ‘Where’s Daniel?’ was the most common phrase said in our group of friends. We all just wanted to be with him, and have him at the parties and hang outs. If he wasn’t there it was obvious that something was missing.”
Kline is survived by his parents Stewart and Suzanne Kline and his older sister Adrienne Weliky.
The West Lafayette High School Class of 2008 alumnus had been a member of his high school track, soccer and football teams. Many fondly remember a 2007 televised game in which Kline faked a punt and ran a 72-yard touchdown.
After matriculating high school, he attended Purdue University with an interest in visual communication design. Kline had designed a “BGR” logo used for many Boiler Gold Rush t-shirts.
He will be interred in Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Cemetery, located at the corner of Kalberer Road and Moorehouse Road, West Lafayette.
All are invited to sign the guest book and leave memories at www.soller-baker.com.
Kline’s life is forever marked by a natural ability to create good feelings in other people, demonstrated time and time again. A personal nature as inspiring as his thus demands those who knew him will strive to carry on his spirit of positivity.
Chase Owen, who spoke with Kline the morning of the accident, worked with him at Jake’s Roadhouse. Kline had managed to leave an indelible mark on Owen’s life.
“There’s a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., that goes ‘When we look at modern man, we have to face the fact that modern man suffers from a kind of poverty of the spirit,’” Owen said. “You know what? I believed that until I met Dan Kline.”
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