Klaire Audrey Tonkel , 21-year-old beloved daughter of Kari and Chad Tonkel, passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at her Fort Wayne home.

Born August 7, 2002, in Columbia City, she spent her childhood enjoying lake life at her parent's home on Loon Lake and recently moved to Fort Wayne. She graduated from Columbia City High School in 2020.

Klaire enjoyed working as a server, previously at The Chanel Marker in Syracuse and Mitchell's in Fort Wayne but was currently serving at Birdie's Rooftop, Fort Wayne. She was also employed at Forest River Inc.

The outdoors, especially being on the lake, was her happy place along with hunting, fishing, and shooting archery. She could be called a gym junkie as lifting weights and maintaining her physical fitness was a major part of her life. Her radiant beauty was captured by the photographer as she modeled for fitness attire, promotions, and product sales with Turf Titan and many others. She loved hanging with her first cousins, Davin, Karlie, and Braiden, and being an auntie to her seven nieces/nephews, was so looking forward to the birth of her brother Cody's baby boy and enjoying socializing with family, extended family and friends. There is no measure of how deeply she was loved and is missed.

Klaire leaves behind her heart-stricken parents Kari and Chad Tonkel of Columbia City; siblings Kole (Katlynn) Freshour of Columbia City, Cody (Logan) Tonkel of Fort Wayne, Courtney (Jaykub) Shoda of Columbia City, Connor (Mathieson) Tonkel, and Kolby Tonkel, both of Columbia City; maternal grandmother, Kaydean (Kerry) Geist of Columbia City; Auntie Karman (Brian) Whiteneck of Warsaw; great aunt, Nancy Sheets of Rhode Island; and great uncle Harry D. Sheets of Columbia City; and many extended family members and so many friends.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Keith A. W. Kleespie; great-grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. G. L. Kleespie and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sheets.

A Memorial Service is being planned on Klaire's 22nd birthday, August 7th at Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Details will be published when available.

Memorials in Klaire's honor of her grandfather Keith A. W. Kleespie, are to the Alzheimer's Association.