Ms. Katie Kloess, LCMS commissioned minister serving at Zion Lutheran School in Marengo, Illinois, was killed yesterday afternoon, December 15, 2016, in a multi-vehicle accident just outside Marengo on her way to coach her 7th-8th grade girls basketball team in their game at Immanuel, Crystal Lake. She was 28.

Katie was a 2013 graduate of Concordia University Chicago, in River Forest, Illinois. She taught in Zion's junior high, coached junior high sports, and was high school youth volunteer co-leader.

Katie is from a family of dedicated church workers, which includes her parents Gary Kloess, who is retired, and mother Susan, who is currently teaching at St. Andrews, Park Ridge, sister Katrina Kloess, teaching at Trinity, Tinley Park, and sister Kristin Kloess, teaching at St. Peter, Arlington Heights, as well as extended family members.

Her favorite Bible passage, posted on her homeroom webpage, is "We also rejoice in our own sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope." Romans 5:3-4

Service information will be shared on the Zion, Marengo, school website (www.zionschool.net) as it becomes available. The school is closed today. 

Please include the family and schools touched by this tragedy in your prayers.