Donna Jean Kletting
October 19, 1934 - January 23, 2019

Donna Jean (Johnson) Kletting, 84 years of age and a life-long resident of the Prairie City, Iowa area passed away peacefully in the home of her son, Terry and his wife Nina, in Kansas City, Missouri on January 23. Donna had spent the last two years living with Terry and Nina while battling lung cancer. Prior to the lung cancer, through the grace of God, Donna survived what was originally diagnosed to be terminal throat cancer. The throat cancer, coupled with COPD, made communication and sustaining nourishment more pain than pleasure, but she lived life to its fullest.
Donna graduated from Prairie City Community High School and was subsequently united in marriage with Dean Allen Kletting of Colfax, Iowa October 21, 1952. Dean was drafted into military service and the couple temporarily resided near the military base in Tooele, Utah where Donna gave birth to her only child, Terry, October 1, 1954. Donna's birth mother, Mildred (DeWit) Johnson, passed when Donna was only three months old. Her father, Hilton Johnson, left the child rearing duties to Donna's grandparents, John P. and Katherine (Nearmeyer) DeWit who raised Donna loving her as one of their own.
Donna became a member of the Prairie City United Methodist Church April 12, 1953 with that certificate of church membership a prized document retained until her death. Until health issues prohibited her participation, she was an avid bowler and her stack of ribbons and awards from the Iowa State Fair for embroidery is indeed substantial. She enjoyed sports of all kinds, but nothing equaled her love for Hawkeye basketball and football. Also, she was quite the Chiefs fan and joyfully watched the last Chiefs victory of the year in her Patrick Mahomes tee shirt. Donna's ability to sing was well known and the throat cancer robbing that ability caused her great sadness.
Donna is survived by her son, Terry (Nina) Kletting of Kanas City and three grandchildren, Christopher Kletting of Des Moines; Chad (Crystal) Kletting of Des Moines; Ashley (Joseph) Speights of Prairie City. She was the very proud great grandmother of five, Pe'Lyana, Isaiah, Ashton and Milani, who just joined the world and Grandma was able to enjoy pictures of before her passing. Each of these children are Joseph and Ashley's. Chad and Crystal round out the five great grandchildren with a wonderful little boy, Anthony.
Donna was preceded in death by Dean in June of 1990 and obviously her mother, Mildred. Likewise, her father and grandparents preceded her in death. She was raised with two wonderful uncles, Donald and Robert DeWit, and an aunt, Thelma McCauley, each of whom treated her like a sister. They likewise have preceded her in death.
Services will be held at the Prairie City United Methodist Church on Monday, January 28 at 1:30 p.m. Visitation will precede the service at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Sugar Grove Cemetery near Newton. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Thank you to the wonderful people at St. Luke's Hospice of Kansas City, Senior Helpers and her wonderful, wonderful caregivers, Mary and Cecelia. A very special thank you to Dr. Theodoros Teknos of the Ohio State Medical Center who, "Just held the scalpel, the Good Lord did all the work." Thank you, Dr. Teknos for giving us another seven plus years with Mom and Grandma.

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