Erna Anna Forde

Erna Anna (Klepper) Forde went to be with the Lord and Angels on May 6th, 2014. Erna was born to Johann and Maria Klepper October 3rd, 1929 in a small village in Bavaria, Germany; Jetzelmeierhof an der Ilm, 30 miles SE of Munich. Erna grew up on a hop & dairy farm. She was a baker’s apprentice in the nearby village of Schweitenkirchen. She found the love of her life while bicycling to the village. A handsome, young Army soldier was stationed near the village at a remote signal battalion station. Thomas Christopher Forde would run after her until one day, she stopped her bicycle, and that was the start of a 52 year union. Erna married Thomas December 17, 1957. Erna’s Tom preceded Erna in death in 2009. Erna’s mother was very sad when she was told that she was “moving to America; I am going to see the World”! Unfortunately, Erna never saw her mother on this Earth again. She is now reunited with her mother Maria, father Johann, brothers, Hans, Rudy, and her sisters Frieda, Marie, and Olga. Wilhelm Klepper lives in Munich, Germany is the last surviving sibling out of seven.

Erna loved her children, and especially her grandchildren, she dedicated her whole life to them. Erna would care for them, pick them up from school, bake and cook like nobody else could. Erna would greet her children and later her grandchildren with home-made baked goodies and wonderful food! She would open the refrigerator and where most people saw nothing, she would prepare a feast for 10 people! Everyone that entered Erna’s house was fed, whether they wanted to eat or not! Erna kept an impeccable house and garden; she especially loved the roses that she grew everywhere. She loved digging in the dirt and listening to the birds. Erna had a special love of animals and there are many pictures of dogs that she would find wandering around the neighborhood, bring into her home, feed and mend and then try to find the owner, which she always managed to do. Shen then however, did not always want to return them. Many animals, dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, rabbits had a wonderful life under Erna’s loving care. She was a Christian in the best description of the word, and not because she went to church every day!

Survivors include her children, Maureen Ritter (Manfred) and Carol Mosshart (Scott) of Yakima, Wa.; her grandsons Sean Ritter , Ryan Ritter and Dylan Mosshart of Yakima, Wa; brother Wilhelm Klepper, Munich, Germany.

A Christian Memorial Vigil will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Keith & Keith Funeral Home. 902 W. Yakima Avenue, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Prevent Homeless Pets Spay and neuter. The family would like to thank Sister Fe Sumalde for being with the family at the time of our mama’s last breath and for her prayers. As Sister Fe spoke the words; “I commend you my dear sister to almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator, May you return to him who formed you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life”; Mama took her last breath. The family would also like to thank YVMH Hospice for their wonderful caring of our mother in her last weeks.

To share a memory of Erna, please visit www.keithandkeith.com