Jeffrey Michael Klenklen

Jeffrey Michael Klenklen passed on to the next world from complications of stage four pancreatic cancer on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Johnston R Bowman Center in Chicago, Il, at the age of 62. He was born on July 3rd, 1963, at St. Joseph Hospital in Boonville, Missouri to Herb and Joyce Klenklen. Jeff moved to Independence, Missouri in 1968. He lived and worked in Eastern Jackson County, Missouri, for more than 30 years. He also lived in Houston and Dallas, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina during his healthcare career. He moved back to the Midwest in 2023 when he relocated to Chicago. Jeff always said that he never knew how much he hated Texas until he left.

Jeff will be laid to rest beside his parents at Mt Olivet Cemetery in Kansas City Missouri. Visitation with rosary will be on Saturday, October 4th, 2025 at Speaks Suburban Chapel at 18020 East 39th Street, Independence, Missouri. A memorial mass will also be held at a later date at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois. His death was preceded by his father Herb Klenklen, his wife Kimberly (Harms) Parrish.

Jeff is survived by his husband Zaid Khalid, his mother Joyce Klenklen, his daughter Kelsey (Klenklen) Kivett, his grandson Emry Kivett, and other cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Jeff moved to Independence Missouri in 1968 when his parents bought their first home. He attended catholic school for his primary and high school education. Jeff worked in his parents’ professional cleaning and janitorial company through his teen years. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Avila University in 1986. As part of his healthcare career Jeff also received a Master’s degree of Science in Healthcare administration (MSHA), from the University of Kansas in 1994, and a master’s degree in Patient Safety Leadership (MS-PSL) from the Department of Medicine, at the University of Chicago, Illinois in 2019. Jeff often commented that receiving his second master’s degree after 50 years of age was one of the hardest things he did in his career.

As a Registered Nurse Jeff enjoyed a 40+ year career until illness forced his to retire early in 2024. Jeff’s long career was divided between clinical practice and healthcare quality, safety, and risk management. Jeff practiced 20 years as an Emergency Room nurse working in large trauma centers to community-based hospitals across the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area. During his emergency room practice Jeff became interested in system design of patient care to optimize quality and patient safety. With encouragement from mentors, he left the bedside and started working in healthcare quality management. Over his leadership career Jeff served in various quality, patient safety, and risk management positions from the hospital, regional, and health system vice president level. His systems that optimize quality and reliability of patient care are still in place in several hospitals and health systems today.

During his free time Jeff enjoyed antiquing with his parent-in-law, traveling, dancing, swimming, meditating, mentoring new Catholics, playwriting, performing improv, attending the theatre, and spending time in the Missouri Ozarks. Later in life Jeff became a volunteer and healthcare expert for Gilda’s Club Cancer Support network in Chicago Illinois. As a cancer patient himself, he supported the art therapy program and collaborated with Gilda’s club to design patient education videos targeting patients that have cancer. Jeff also became an active volunteer and supporter for Holy Name Cathedral and for Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach (AGLO) both in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeff’s additional mission in life was to be a good son, father, husband and to deepen his own spirituality. In addition to mentoring new Catholics over ten years, he also worked to promote inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ+ Catholics across Chicago through his support of AGLO.

Jeff maintained a positive attitude in his own cancer journey and believed that his spirituality and drive to maintain his health led to him live beyond projected life expectancy numbers for people with advanced stage pancreatic cancer.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Gilda’s Club Chicago.