Donna Arlene Kloes

Donna Jensen Kloes passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 1, 2022. It was a dark and snowy night on January 4, 1937 when Donna Arlene was born to Roy and Edna Forseth Jensen. She soon found her way into the hearts of anyone who met her. She followed a brother, Roy Jensen of Bremerton, and a few years later was joined by a sister, Nola Jensen Laufenberg Russell of Arlington.

Donna attended Snohomish High School, class of 1954, where she was honored to be a Homecoming Princess and discovered that she had a beautiful soprano voice. She sang in her church choir and was a soloist at many weddings over the next 60 years. At age 19 she married LeRoy Kloes (Lee) and they were very happily married for more than 60 years until his passing in 2019. Early in their marriage together they built a house in the Fobes area of Snohomish and she lived there until her passing. Their union brought three sons: Dale (wife Carol), Dean (wife Karla), and Daren (wife Lori.) These sons and their families were the light of Donna’s life. Grandkids include Katie Kloes Greeny (husband Erik), McKenna Kloes Warren (husband Jonathan), Cami Kloes, Benjamin Kloes, Jacob Kloes, and Noah Kloes. Donna spent many hours at their sporting events, playing games with them, baking cookies, organizing Easter egg coloring parties, cookie decorating, and pumpkin carving parties. Her Norwegian roots ran deep and she taught each generation how to make lefse, a flat potato bread. Many fun times were experienced at her home. As her own children grew a little older, Donna began working at the Snohomish County Courthouse in the Clerk’s Office, continuing there for 25 years. Many of her co-workers from those years have remained her close friends. Her life centered around her belief in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and she was active all her life at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the church founded by her grandparents in 1908. She had a compassionate servant’s heart and did so many nice things for the people in her church, her community, her friends and family. She was a great cook and served many tasty meals. Most people would remember her delicious cookies always at the ready for company.

There were important people in Donna’s life that should be acknowledged. Margaret Kloes Dildine, sister-in- law, but loved like a sister, and Keith Russell, brother-in law, who was always so kind and helpful to her, and her other sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law that preceded her in death: Lloyd Kloes, Don Laufenberg, Mickey Jensen, and Leilia Kloes. She was devoted to her parents, Roy and Edna Jensen, and cared for her mom daily for years. There were so many lifelong friends, cousins, and nieces and nephews that she loved. First cousins are Edna Hannaford, Al Moen (wife Nancy), Elaine Heichel, and Carol Krause (husband Wayne). Other close family members preceded her in death. Next door neighbors, Tim and Connie Larson, were always so kind to her. Her sister, Nola, has described her many times as “one of the nicest people I have ever met….and she’s my sister! How lucky am I?” Surely that same sentiment could be echoed by all those who knew her.

A celebration of her life will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5511 64th St SE, Snohomish WA 98290 on Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 pm. Memorials may be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5511 64th St SE, Snohomish WA 98290 or to St John’s Episcopal Church, Memo -Community Kitchen, 913 2nd St, Snohomish WA 98290.