Karen Kilkenny Klosterman

Karen Kilkenny Klosterman Born: 9/17/37 - Died: 8/29/16 Karen was born in Pendleton, Oregon, during the "Westward Ho" parade of the Pendleton Roundup to the Honorable John F. and Virginia B. Kilkenny. She grew up in Pendleton and graduated from Pendleton H.S. in 1955. She attended the University of Oregon, where she studied English Literature and Music. Karen enjoyed singing very much. She joined the Alpha XI Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and made good friends there, especially Paddie Swindells Reidel. She left the U of O in 1957, and after traveling to Honolulu for summer school (studying Hawaiian history and hula dancing), moved on to San Francisco, where she beca me a secretary to a law firm on Montgomery Street. In 1960, she returned to Portland, OR., where her parents had moved in 1959. Karen met and married Thomas Kemna (Kem) Klosterman, Jr., in 1962, at St. Mary's Cathedral. In 1963, she started her family with Kathleen Cooney (John), followed by Virginia Torvend (Dave), and Fritz Klosterman (Erin). Later on, she had Wade Sagner (Dawn). She and Kem moved to Gearhart in 1965 and raised their family there. In 1997 they moved to Seaside for a bigger home and enjoyed many visits from their beloved children and grandchildren. (Brock, Sadie, and Bo Klosterman, as well as Wyatte, Eden, Westley, and Ava Sagner). She loved animals and wanted to make mention of her very favorite pets: (Sammie, Puka, Tillie, Buddy, and Otto the Labradoodle) Karen loved being Irish through and through! She loved being a wife, mother, and adoring Nana. She was also Auntie to 3 nieces, 2 nephews, and their issue. She also loved to sing, dance, laugh, read, sew, work on the computer, walk, ride her bike, and travel whenever she could, mostly to the islands. She treasured English literature and loved OPB with its BBC productions. She also dearly loved her friends throughout her life and in her present cul-de-sac on the river in Seaside. In the end, Karen grew tired of battling chronic lung issues and decided she was finally ready for eternal rest in heaven, with her Lord and family who had preceded her in death. Karen's memorial will be held on Friday, September 16th, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, in Seaside, with mass beginning at 11:00, and a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Karen's favorite charities: Clatsop County Animal Shelter, and Autism Society of Oregon. Hughes-Ransom Mortuary & Crematory in Seaside is in charge of arrangements. Thank you for visiting hughes-ransom.com to share memories and sign the guest book.

Funeral Home:
Hughes-Ransom Mortuary Seaside
220 N Holladay
Seaside, OR
US 97138