Donna M. Klanderman
After a tenacious and honest fight against the unfair evils of dementia, Donna M. Klanderman, 76, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 22, 2024.
Donna was a kind, friendly person whose goal each day was to make at least one person laugh. She always had a smile on her face and sincerely cared about the people around her, whether they were family, friends or strangers. Donna was always willing to help anyone and had a generous soul.
Donnas was born on February 10, 1948 to Virginia (nee Gosse) and Raymond Renderman. She was a life-long resident of Fond du Lac. Donna attended St. Patrick’s School and L.P. Goodrich High School. She was proud to have been a cheerleader and choir member – graduating in 1966.
Donna was a self-sufficient and free-spirited woman of her time. After high school, she spent some time abroad in Spain. In the early 1970’s she lived in Florida with her good friend Sue. (This was where she acquired the nickname “Tuna”). Donna held a variety of jobs and made life-long friends at each one. She worked at an insurance company and Edith’s Bridals and Tuxedos. She then joined the KFIZ radio team until the 1990’s. After that she worked for Grant Thornton Accounting firm until retiring in 1999. One of the things she was most proud of was she single-handedly bought and eventually completely paid for her cute little house on Taft Street.
Via a mutual friend (Tom Boyson), Donna started dating the love of her life, Joel Klanderman, in the summer of 1994. They were married on July 15, 2000. Together, Joel and “Lita” traveled all over the country and lived life to the fullest: feeding pelicans in Florida, sailing in Canadian waters, meeting Mickey Mouse at Disney World, golfing in Palm Springs, getting drenched by Niagara Falls, whale-watching near the Orcas Islands, eating lobster in Maine, and gazing at the mountains of Colorado and canyons of Arizona. One of their favorite recurring trips was to visit Aunt Dorothy and Aunt Gert to view all the creative, unique hot air balloons during the annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival.
Donna had many hobbies. Each and every one of them brought out her token grin and positive self-esteem. She loved to decorate for holidays big or small. She crocheted hundreds of baby afghans/blankets for loved ones and charity. She loved her vegetable/fruit gardens (tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, green beans, strawberries, zucchini, etc.) and gave away what she couldn’t freeze or dry. Her ornamental gardens were exceptional. She loved to show friends and family her latest blooms: columbine (even though Joel called it a “foul weed” and threatened to break out the Round Up), irises, daylilies, and the annual blooms of her prickly pear cacti. In addition, Donna was the baking queen. Every Christmas she would make many, many care packages of goodies to give to friends and family. They contained her famous white chocolate macadamia (“happiness”) cookies, chocolate pretzels, garlic pretzels, and lemon poppy seed, cherry nut, pistachio nut, and banana nut mini-bread loaves. She was a proud representative for Pampered Chef, and she held many Pampered Chef parties where she relished in cooking up a storm and showcasing the latest recipes. Her pizza stones and other baking pans were well-loved. Donna was known to have played thousands of games of online solitaire and to be a card-shark. Whether it was Phase 10, cribbage, or Uno, she was not afraid to throw a few skips or draw fours at even the people she cared for the most (i.e. Joel).
In addition to her home-oriented hobbies, she was very active out-and-about the Fond du Lac area. She played in a pool league and won many trophies. She and her beloved BMW Z3 “Little Red” made many trips to the golf course so she could participate in her league nights. She loved to sing
and was an active member of the South Shore Chorale singing ensemble. Despite the hundred plus people on stage twice a year, one could always pick out Donna from that crowd. Her beaming smile was its own spot light. Finally, one of her favorite pastimes was going to estate, antique, and thrift sales. Her main target was anything musical. She had the most unique collection of musicals (boxes, snow globes, figurines, etc.) If you stopped over at Donna’s house, you could be assured you would be educated on her latest “treasures”.
Because of her life-long-ties, Donna was all about giving back to the Fond du Lac community. She was a member and participant in a variety of local groups, clubs, and events. She was proud of her FDL roots and was always helping to keep her classmates reunited by being on the class reunion board. She was the treasurer for her Women in Management Club for a number of terms. She was most proud of being a member of the Fond du Lac Chapter of Soroptimist International Club for over 35 years where she was recognized twice as the “Soroptimist of the Year” (1999 and 2007) and had perfect attendance. She was exceptionally proud about reading the invocation that she and Joel wrote for the meetings. Some of her favorite moments of the year were helping promote the annual Fond du Lac commemorative Christmas ornament sale, pitching in for the Habitat for Humanity “Women’s Build” group, and participating in the Chocolate Fantasy event.
She was the beloved “Aunt Tuna” to her nieces and nephews and was proud to be the Godmother to Justin Laning and Hans Franke.
Donna is survived by brother, Ray (Kathy) Renderman; sister, Betty (Keith) Laning; sister, Margaret Pamenter; nieces and nephews: Edward Knecht, Katie Pamenter-Prager, Christopher Pamenter, Ryan Renderman, Rebecca Renderman Hafermann, Robert Renderman, Jason Laning, Jennifer Laning Krajenka, Justin Laning, and Keith Laning; her step daughter, Krista (Kurt Wismer) Klanderman; long time friend and “sister in spirit”, Sue Wagner Coats; good friend and walking buddy, Martha Schmalz; beloved surrogate family the Milczskis, (Dan, Laurie, Kirsten, Camryn, and Trevor); “adopted daughter”, Becky Durbin; and aunt-in-law, Dr. Dorothy Barbo. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joel; her parents; her sister, Virginia (Ginny) Knecht; brother-in-law, Edward Knecht; mother-in-law, Wanda Klanderman; father-in-law, Walt Klanderman; and aunt-in-law, Dr. Gert Frishmuth.
Donna’s family invites friends and relatives to a time of visitation on August 7, 2024 at Hope Lutheran Church, 260 Vincent Street, Fond du Lac from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. A memorial service will take place following the visitation. Interment will follow at Calvary Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, Donna’s family would appreciate memorials to the Joel D. Klanderman and Donna M. Renderman Klanderman Family Fund at the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, 1020 S. Main St., Suite E, Fond du Lac, WI 54935.
Donna’s family would like to extend a huge thank you to Preceptor Home Health and Hospice and to the staff at the Liberty House, especially Angela, Hailee, Courtney, Amber, Cadence, Aleida, Lily H., Lilly B., Cynthia, Tara, Rebbie, and Jenna Anderson. Their respectful, loving care of Donna will never be forgotten. These amazing ladies have a lot in common with Donna: being selfless, loving, caring, and positive human beings.
We all know the biggest smile that ever graced Donna’s face was when she entered heaven to be united for eternity with her “Joey”. You will always be our “sunshine”. Rest in peace, sweet Donna-lita. We love you!