Donnamae Klotz, 83 of Bend, Oregon passed away on Monday, April 4, 2011. She lived a life of devotion to her music, her church, and most of all her family. She was born on June 20, 1927, to Alva Frederick Hoffman and Edna Sophie Wilhelmina Berndt Hoffman in Melrose Park, Illinois. She attended St. John's Evangelical Lutheran School and had her Confirmation in the Lutheran Church on April 6, 1941. She attended the Luther Institute, where she met her future husband, and spent two years at Valparaiso University, where she was a member of the Alpha Phi Delta sorority. She married Harlan G. Klotz on June 12, 1948, and the two moved to Bensenville, Illinois, where they raised five children. Donnamae was very active in Zion Lutheran Church, organizing and directing the first children's choir, teaching Sunday School, and singing in the adult choir. Vacationing with the family in northern Wisconsin, she developed a lifelong love of the North Woods and the family cottages in Oneida County, the first on Flannery Lake and then later on Two Sisters Lake. Harlan's work with the M&M Mars Company took them to life in New Jersey and California, and extensive travel around the world. Harlan passed away in March, 1986, and she married Richard L. "Dick" Rost of Barrington, Illinois, on May 16, 1992, and the two resided near Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. She continued to travel, honed her genealogy skills, and learned to play the harp while directing the handbell choir at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church in Minocqua. Donnamae had been to all seven continents, including Antarctica, yet she was always a little fearful of flying. Eventually, she declared that her traveling days were over, yet she took special joy in making exceptions for the weddings of three of her granddaughters. For health reasons, she moved to Bend, Oregon, near her son Paul, in 2009. She is predeceased by both husbands. Dick Rost passed away in June of 2010. She is survived by her five children from her first marriage, Jack (Jill) Klotz of Douglasville, Georgia, Paul (Deb) Klotz of Bend, Oregon, Thom (Holly) Klotz of Janesville, Wisconsin, Dr. Beth Klotz von Seggern of El Morro, New Mexico, and Nancy (Steve) Klotz Bennett of Lindsay, California; nine grandchildren, Heidi (Todd) Klotz Hall, James Klotz, Erin (Matt) Klotz Wherry, Gretchen Klotz, Jenny (Brad) Klotz Brod, Hillary Klotz, Heather Klotz, Megan Bennett, and Ashley Bennett; three children from her second marriage, Rita (Tom) Howley of Mt Prospect, Illinois, Philip (Eleanor) Rost of Great Falls, Virginia, and Eldrie Stone of Ventura, Iowa; and grandchildren, David Stone and Daniel Stone. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 17th at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2550 N.E. Butler Market Rd., Bend, Oregon 97701. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, a memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/mosiac or 1-800-277-2345) or the Lutheran Hour Ministries (www.lhmgift.org or 1-800-944-3450). Interment will take place in Newbold Cemetery in Newbold, Wisconsin. Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414 / www.carlsonfh.com) is assisting the family with arrangements.
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