Rachel Marie Klein, 88, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt and friend died Monday, April 20, 2026, at Wesley Hospital. She retired from Boeing graphic design department and sang in the Emerald City Chorus, Chapter of Sweet Adelines, International for many years.
Rachel was born in Wichita and attended North High School. After marrying Vic, August 17th, 1953, they began a long life together, sharing many years of adventures. They welcomed four children to their union. Once kids were raised, Rachel & Vic dove into traveling and many hobbies, including building street rods and showing them in different competitions throughout the U.S. Rachel found her love of singing and joined the Wichita Chapter of Sweet Adelines Chorus. She was very active, holding many offices and chaired many projects, as well as a founding member of a new chapter, Emerald City Chorus. Rachel loved traveling to competitions and performing, but most of all loved the companionship of the friends she made in the chorus. Her declining hearing forced her singing retirement. Rachel remained independent and enjoyed doing water aerobics at the YMCA with son, Alan, playing Bunco and spending time with cousins.
Visitation with family will be from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Thursday, April 23, 2026, Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 am, Friday, April 24, 2026, both held at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary, 10515 West Maple, Wichita. Services will be live streamed and available for viewing by clicking on the red “Watch Funeral Service” button below. Burial following at Greenwood Cemetery, 6231 West 47th Street South, Wichita, KS.
Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, Albert “Al” Joseph and Alice Eliza Redmond; husband, Victor “Vic” J. Klein; brothers, Joseph “Buud” Albert Redmond, Robert “Bob” L. Redmond; sister, JoAnn Simpson; daughter, Leslie Way; granddaughter, Deborah Klein; twin grandsons, Grant & Aaron Klein, and her beloved fur babies: Alex, Kelsey, Lexie, Tina, Tony, Lucy & Tucker. She is survived by her sons, Alan (Tammie) Klein of Wichita, Ted (Vicki) Klein of Redmond, WA; daughter, Joni (Dave) Meeth of New Orleans, LA & Wichita; 9 grandchildren, many great & great-great grandchildren; several relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: Rainbows United, Inc., 3223 N. Oliver Avenue, Wichita, KS 67220.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary – West Chapel, Wichita, KS.
Services
Visitation: Thursday, April 23, 2026 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Downing & Lahey West Mortuary
10515 W. Maple
Wichita, KS 67209
Celebration of Life: Friday, April 24, 2026 10:30 am
Downing & Lahey West Mortuary
10515 W. Maple
Wichita, KS 67209
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Charities
The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Rachel Marie Klein 's name.








Such a lovely gal. Spent many moments with Sweet Adeline’s with Rachel.
Rachel and I shared many Sweet Adeline adventures. We put several tables together for a Mark Arts event and traveled to competitions and music schools. For several summers I was her gardener.
I’ll never forget standing in the midst of a LOT of fireworks we were to collect and drive to Wichita for a chorus stand. Our two vans were not going to cut it. She surveyed the scene and calmly said, “I’ll call Buud.” He provided the transport we needed.
She had great drive and such a can-do attitude.