April 17, 1952 – July 3, 2024
Llama lying on
Her side in sunny pasture
Listening to earth breath
-PK (Klumpp) Miller
Whether reading (at times well into the night only to be startled awake when the book slipped from her hands), corresponding with her many friends & treasured family (April, her birthday month, is National Poetry Month as introduced and organized by the Academy of American Poets. Patti, endeavoring to increase its awareness and appreciation, always made sure to send everyone a poem of hers or a work of one of her many admired poets: Ada Limon, Joy Harjo and Robert Bly to name a few), writing poetry (haiku-her favorite form, having read the likes of Basho, Buson and Issa), mixing sugar elixir for hummingbirds in Summer, in Winter, making sure they were plenty of sunflower seeds for her feathered friends or playing Scrabble with her loving partner, Constance, Patti easily managed to avoid housework. Ada, her mini Schnauzer, loved this about Patti. It meant so much more time for a long walk that Patti termed a “sniff-ari”.
The way that life exists and changes of its own accord deeply inspired Patti. Drawn to Zen Buddhism, she often referred to Thich Nhat Hanh. No mud, No Lotus. A long held tenet of Patti’s. Ada yet agrees.
Patti was born on April 17th, 1952 in Camp LeJeune, North Carolina to parents Esther Bertha (nee Kutzbach) Klumpp and Alvin George Klumpp. As, too, her beloved sister, Vicki Klumpp-Browne (Kurt) fourteen months later.
Later moved to Michigan, as a child, Patti held precious the time at the farm of her Grandparents, Hazel and George Klumpp, in Hersey, MI.
Ever a student of life, Patti excelled in school…thoughts dancing with words. Words, in any language, she eagerly loved to learn.
Reed City High School (class of 1970) became the stepping stone on Patti’s journey to higher education. She eventually, earned her B.A. from MSU, M.A. from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and coursework for her Doctorate in English Lit. at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Patti was a long time employee of Ann Arbor District Library as she lived in Saline and later Tecumseh, MI.
Patti passed on July 3, 2024 after a short illness at Hospice of Lenawee County in Adrian, MI.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Esther, father, Alvin, adoptive father, Larry and cousin, Carol Klumpp.
Patti is survived by her loving partner of fifty years, Constance, her sisters, Vicki (Kurt), Sally, and Michelle (Chuck), brother, Mark (Annette), Uncle, Elmer Klumpp, her Aunt, Joan Klumpp, and Cousin Cathy (Klumpp) McCabe (Richard).
Her cherished nephews, Evan and Aaron, gave Patti great joy along with a number of loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Lenawee County or The American Library Association.
Patti’s wishes were that she be cremated. Later interred in Hersey (MI) Cemetery with family. A memorial service will be held at that time.
One of Patti’s many favored poems was Mary Oliver’s, Mysteries, Yes
Mysteries, Yes
Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in
Mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
In allegiance with gravity
While we ourselves dream of rising.
How two hands touch and the bonds will
Never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
The scars of damage,
To the comfort of a poem.
Let me keep my distance, always, from those
Who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say,
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment,
And bow their heads. -Mary Oliver
All who have come to know and love Patti, will understand why.
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