Nancy Larson Van Kleek

A memorial service will take place on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 11 AM at Young’s Funeral Home in Tigard for Nancy Van Kleek, who passed away after a long illness in Beaverton, OR on June 11, 2013 at the age of 59.

Nancy was born September 28, 1953 in Portland, OR, one of four children of Peter and Darlene (Downs) Larson. She was a graduate of Knappa High School in Knappa, OR. In 1986, she married Edward Van Kleek in Reno, NV. Nancy worked in finance her entire career. In 1985 she joined Pacific Corp. Financial’s Business Finance department in Portland’s Big Pink tower. They were bought by AT&T Capital, and she was relocated to Denver, CO for four years before returning to Portland with National Mortgage Company, where she worked for the rest of her career, rising to Manager of Loan Closings. She was extremely proud and enthusiastic about the work she did there, and her work family was very important to her.

Among Nancy’s many interests was quilting – many family members and colleagues are proud owners of quilts she made to commemorate births and other special occasions. She was fond of bright colors, and her quilting work comprised at least as much thought as labor. The meanings of the panels were something she gave immense thought to. Nancy also was an avid basket weaver, and a member of the Columbia Basin Basketry Guild. After her illness denied her the ability to quilt, she took up knitting as well, making hats that she gifted to family and co-workers. She and Edward also enjoyed cross-country skiing, bicycling, and fishing together, and they were fond of traveling, having visited many warm places and wine country destinations in the western U.S. A long visit to Germany to visit her sister Mary before Nancy started her family also brought them both many lifelong memories. She collected Beanie Baby bears and was fond of Pandas and cats (having been preceded in death by her cats Sara and Blaze).

Also preceding Nancy in death were her father Peter Larson and brother Ray Duncan.

She will be missed by her husband of almost 27 years, Edward Van Kleek of Tigard;

mother Darlene Larson of Adrian, OR;

sister Mary Hedges and her husband Scott of Clarksville, TN, and their children Aaron Hedges of Bowling Green, KY, Amanda Economos and husband Anthony of Clarksville, and Aimee Hedges of Clarksville; great-niece Lily Economos, and great-nephews Weston Economos and Braxton Economos, all of Clarksville;

brother Leonard Larson of Adrian, OR;

stepson Bobby Van Kleek, his wife Cristina, and their children Adriel and Seth of Salem, OR;

stepdaughter Caren Van Kleek of Beaverton;

brothers-in-law James Van Kleek and his wife Lanore of Tigard, and their children Erik, Craig, and Chad; and David Van Kleek and his wife Barbara of Hillsboro, and their daughter Elizabeth.

The family would be grateful for donations in Nancy’s name to either the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor’s choice.