The Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library has dedicated a special giving tree to the late Doris Klock, 84, of Hampshire.
The tree has blank leaves that can be inscribed with the names of people who wish to donate to the library, 109 S. State St., Hampshire.
A gathering of some 50 family and friends attended the dedication. Klock is survived by her husband, Arlo; daughter Marla Peterson and her husband, Bruce; daughter Marsha VanHooijdonk and her husband, Carl; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and three sisters.
The family decided to honor Klock, who was a library trustee for many years and was a volunteer in a number of community efforts, with the memorial donation fund. Klock had worked more than 25 years as bookkeeper at Dreymiller & Kray butcher shop in Hampshire.
“Doris was the epitome of the word volunteer,” said Barbara Brust, library board president.
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Emily Klonicki, library director, elaborated on Klock’s accomplishments.
“In addition to being active in the Hampshire Garden Club and the Hampshire Henpeck Home and Community Education Organization, Doris was a member of Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043, the Red Hat Club, and the Hampshire Women’s Book Club,” Klonicki said. “She was an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hampshire. She took up donations for veterans at the Elgin Mental Health Center and was a very active volunteer for the Hampshire/Burlington Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels.
“We were honored when her family set up a memorial donation fund for the library. It was agreed that a giving tree would be a perfect way to memorialize Doris’ life as well as continue the spirit of giving that she embodied far into the future.”
Klock’s granddaughter, Allison Schultz, said the Hampshire library was her grandmother’s home away from home.
“She probably read half of all the books in this library,” Schultz said. “She read every night just before she went to bed. She loved mysteries.”
Two of Doris’ friends spoke at the dedication ceremony.
“Doris lived by the adage that to have a friend is to be a friend,” Geraldine Rizik said. “She brought joy to people at the nursing home and knew all of their names. Wherever we went, she knew everyone there. She was always recruiting others to volunteer. My life was enriched by the privilege of being her friend.”
“Doris was the most loyal member of the Hampshire Garden Club,” said Audrey Sparr. “She took an interest in what you said. She could walk into a room of strangers and know them all before she left. She was the most gracious, loving person I have ever known.”
Rev. Sylvester Nnaso of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church also remembered Klock.
“She loved this community so much. She was all things to all people,” he said.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.