Donna Klodt

Donna Arlene Klodt, 96, of rural Milton, Iowa, passed away peacefully in her home on April 8, 2024, at 1:42 p.m., surrounded by her family after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was born December 10, 1927, in Lake Crystal, Minnesota, to Bernice A. Stull Summers and Glenn P. Summers. She married Clarence Klodt on February 2, 1953, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ottumwa, Iowa. Donna grew up in Ottumwa and attended Ottumwa High School, graduating in 1945. She also spent a year on her aunt and uncle’s farm between Libertyville and Douds and attended school in Douds, then returned to Ottumwa to finish out her school years. She and Clarence met while taking square dance classes in Ottumwa. He left to serve in the Korean Conflict and after his return home they married on February 2, 1953. After graduating high school, Donna worked for McElroy and Truitt law and abstract firm in Ottumwa as a legal secretary before marrying and moving to the farm north of Milton where she and Clarence farmed and raised livestock until their retirement. Donna and Clarence were charter members of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Bloomfield. She was also a member of the Help Your Neighbor Club for many years. Donna had several flower gardens throughout her yard and will always be remembered for the beautiful irises she grew. She also loved to read and do crossword, word search, and jigsaw puzzles, and she never lost her sense of humor, even during the hardest days. One story she loved to tell was that she once got 100 in spelling on her report card and her family loved to hear that story. The most important thing in Donna’s world was her family. She also loved all holidays, especially Christmas, and her Christmas trees are still up and being lit each night. Surviving are her two daughters, Debbie Klodt of Milton, Ginger (Larry) Austin of Grinnell; son, Brad (Jocelyn Rosdail) Klodt of Milton; granddaughter, Erin Austin of Grinnell; three grandsons, Corey (Heather) Austin of Milton, Tanner Rosdail and Tegan Creath both of Milton; one great-grandson, Carter Austin, of Milton; five great-granddaughters, Kaylei Moore and Kloei Austin of Owensboro, Kentucky, Parker Austin of Milton, Charlie Reid of Ottumwa, and Paisley Rosdail of Milton. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Edward of Dallas, Texas, Jay of Ottumwa, Iowa; and a sister, Bonnie of Nekoma, Kansas. Memorials may be made to EveryStep Hospice in Mt. Pleasant or the Milton Public Library. A private family funeral with burial at the Troy Cemetery will be held at a later date. Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.

Donna Klodt

December 10, 1927 - April 8, 2024