Joan Dorothy Kluge (1938-2009)
KLUGE, MORRISON, FRAKE, JOHNSON, KWENTUS, COLE, HILMER
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 8/19/2009 at 07:28:29
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, August 18, 2009.
Joan Dorothy Kluge, of Ames, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. She battled leukemia for more than 10 years and lost her life to a viral encephalitis infection. A celebration of life service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames. The service will be followed by a tea reception at the church.
Joan Dorothy Kluge was born Jan. 17, 1938, in St. Louis, Mo. She graduated in 1956 from Kirkwood High School. She returned to school as an adult and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology in 1984.
She married her high school sweetheart and soul mate John Kluge in 1958. Their romance continued through 51 years of marriage and served as a model for building a successful and fulfilling partnership.
She was very talented, artistic, respected, admired and developed lifelong friendships and relationships in her community and abroad. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many and was passionate about creating meaningful traditions.
Her wide range of hobbies included cooking; entertaining; oil and water painting; sewing, including stitchery and quilting, resulting in many treasured gifts for her grandchildren such as baptismal gowns; antiquing; and international travel to places such as England, France, Italy, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Kenya, Ukraine, Egypt, Netherlands and Thailand. She was known for her holiday celebrations and traditions that are relished by her family and friends. She loved spending time with her husband, family and friends at their cabin in Leon. She also created a very special outdoor retreat referred to as the quiet area that was a favorite place to relax and reflect.
She was very active in the community and was involved in a broad range of clubs and associations. These include the ISU Women’s Club and Couples Club, the Birthday Club, Bridge Club and Craft Group, and a wine tasting group.
She completed grant projects for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Iowa State University. She also restored artifacts for the Farm House Museum and various other museums. She received the Outstanding Service Award for her commitment to graduates of the College Veterinary Medicine at ISU from the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association in 1997. In addition, Joan was president of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) Auxiliary in 1998.
Since 1962, she was an active member at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. John Kluge, of Ames; three children, Janna (Steve) Morrison, of Destin, Fla., Tom (Kathy) Kluge, of Chandler, Ariz., and Erika (Brian) Frake, of Delano, Minn.; one son-in-law, Mark Johnson, of Robbinsdale; and 10 grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother, Dorothy Kwentus; one brother, Jerry Kwentus; one sister, Judy Cole; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Hilmer.
She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Kwentus; one brother, Gene Kwentus; one daughter, Paula Johnson; and one granddaughter, Sarah Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, she requested a memorial to be directed to Memorial Lutheran Church and the Farm House Museum through the Iowa State University Foundation.
Adams Funeral Home and Cremation Service is assisting the family with arrangements.
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