Donald N. Kloss

Donald N. Kloss, 75, passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2012, surrounded by his family at his home in Independence following a battle with melanoma. Don was born on Sept. 16, 1936, in Trempealeau County, to Tekla (Wiersgalla) and Peter Kloss. He graduated from Independence High School and then served in the U.S. Navy, where he spent time on Ascension Island as a pioneer in the U.S. space program. On May 17, 1958, Don married his high school sweetheart Marie Bautch. Don was very involved in the community, serving 18 years on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors and was also a founding member of Mississippi Valley Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Independence Lion’s Club, and Holy Name Society. Don owned Indee Enterprises, an HVAC business, for over 50 years. Friends and family will remember Don’s enjoyment in serving (and telling stories to) his friends and customers. Don also had a multitude of hobbies: hunting, fishing, beekeeping, gardening, and tobacco farming. Don was famous for his ability to fix or repair almost anything. If Don couldn’t fix it, no one could. Surviving Don are his wife, Marie (Bautch) Kloss; his children, Tom (Donna) Kloss of Whitehall, Dawn (Todd) Toraason of Whitehall, Lori (Todd) Appleton of Green Bay, and Jen (John) Heffner of Napa, Calif.; his grandchildren, Brandon (Tiffany) Kloss, Adam Kloss, Lindsay (Brandan) Kurth, Trevor Toraason, Sydney, Aubrey, Kennedy and Kaden Appleton, Jack and Helen Heffner; two great-grandchildren, Alexis and Anna Kurth; and two sisters, Carolyn Kloss of Whitehall and Marian Juve of Wisconsin Rapids. Don was preceded in death by three brothers, Bennie, Louie and Alex Kloss and a sister, Theresa Lemon. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Independence, with Rev. Timothy Oudenhoven officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. followed by a rosary, at Edison Funeral Home, Independence, and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald N. Kloss, please visit our flower store.