Loraine Krbez Van Patten Klapperich

Loraine Krbez Van Patten Klapperich peacefully left this earth on August 26, 2025 while living her hundredth year, eighty four days shy of her hundredth birthday. Lonny, as she was nicknamed by one of the many boys who was smitten with her during her teen years, was born in Milwaukee, WI on November 18, 1925 to Joseph Krbez and Ella Loose Krbez. Her shy older brother Roland “Rolly” preceded her in death. Lonny was like a firecracker in a library, always wondering how these stoic, quiet people produced such a whirlwind of life.

Lonny was raised as a city girl in Milwaukee, a tomboy who loved to explore the city's playgrounds, rooftops and alleys. The youngest of many cousins, she often walked the mile to her “Tante” (Aunt's) houses to spend time with them. During the depression she spent many days at Army Lake Camp near Milwaukee, building strong swimming skills that would stay with her for the rest of her life. She discovered music at an early age and was selected to be in her high school's honor choir. She went on to participate in and direct her church's choirs. She wrote numerous songs and in true Lonny fashion painstakingly wrote out both the music and words and kept them in well-labeled notebooks. Not one to sit still for long, Lonny also enjoyed a good round of golf, bowling in several leagues and cheering on her Packers. She was a talented photographer who loved to capture photos of the places she went and especially the people that she visited. She embraced technology and spent many hours editing her photos on her laptop and emailing friends and family. Her eyes didn't allow her to use a smart phone, but she asked Alexa numerous questions each day. Her curious mind was always on the hunt for answers.

Lonny was baptized in the German Lutheran Church in Milwaukee on April 10, 1926. As a young child of 5 or 6, she followed the Milwaukee Salvation Army's marching band to their meeting place around the corner from her home. Her frantic mother found her some time later, listening intently and learning about her Savior Jesus Christ. This began her lifelong love of hearing and sharing God's word and basking in the love of Jesus. Lonny was a prayer warrior, who prayed daily for a long list of friends and family. You can be assured that if Lonny knew you, Lonny prayed for you.

Lonny married Jack Van Patten in Milwaukee in 1945. Even though Lonny went against the norms of the time and used her mathematical and analytical skills by working full time in the bookkeeping department of several different businesses, their house had an open door for family, friends and neighbors to gather and they did so often. In the early 1980s she and Jack fell in love with the Southwest and in 1981 they left Milwaukee and bought land and built a house in the fledgling city of Rio Rancho, NM. Lonny added design touches to the house and made sure it included a pool. She spent the next forty years swimming daily in her pool, maintaining the water meticulously and knowing the pump and filtration system inside out and backwards. Jack passed away in 1995, with Lonny caring for him during the long illness that preceded his death.

In late 1995 Lonny discovered that “Bobby” Klapperich, a childhood neighbor of her cousins' in Milwaukee, had been widowed. She called him up and they rekindled a friendship and then love that had started many years before. They were married in Rio Rancho in May of 1996 and spent the next thirteen years enjoying each other, the Southwest and traveling near and far. Bob died in 2009, with Lonny again lovingly caring for him as his illness progressed.

Lonny's greatest joy in life were her three children: Jack Van Patten of Milwaukee, Lauren Van Patten of Rio Rancho and Rick Van Patten, who preceded her in death in 1999. She also felt blessed to know and love Bob's children, Pam Torosian and Peter and Steve Klapperich. Even though they were grown by the time their lives crossed, Lonny spoke of them lovingly and often. Lonny was a proud grandmother to Kristen, Melinda, Peter and Jackie, her great-grandchildren Hayley, Heather, Tia, Madison and Harrison, and great-great-grandchildren Malakai and Izabella. Even in the last few years when her eyes and ears were failing, her face would light up when her children or grandchildren came to visit or would call. The only thing she loved more than her family was her Lord.

In addition to her family, Lonny leaves behind an army of friends. Lonny's loving manner and playful outlook on life drew people to her. She made lifelong friends with her bowling buddies, church family, neighbors and many others who crossed her path. She truly loved her family of fellow believers at Peace Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho. Her door was always open and while her brandy bottle sometimes wasn't full, she always had a spare.

A celebration of Lonny's life will be held on her 100th birthday, Wednesday, November 18, 2025 at noon at Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 Cabezon SE, Rio Rancho, NM.. In her memory, please say a fervent prayer and have a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet. Prost! to a life well lived.