David Milo Klanke

David Milo Klanke was born March 18, 1956, in Vancouver, Washington. He died May 21, 2025, during a medical procedure in Seattle, Washington. He was a longtime resident of Wenatchee. He is survived by his current wife, Cynthia Brown; daughters Patricia Klanke (Mark Blevins) and Melissa Klanke (Scott Adams); stepdaughter Althea Castro (Josh Castro); grandchildren Alden Manning and Eddy Manning; step-grandchildren Josef, Cortana, Alliah, and Marcus Castro; siblings Cheryl Burr, Russ Klanke, Ron Klanke, Jim Klanke; and brother in all respects other than law or blood, Gene Rogers. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Roxanne Klanke; infant son, Robert Mathias Klanke; mother Leona Mellott; father Robert Melvin Klanke; and dearly beloved friend Chris Winter. Milo grew up one of four brothers sharing a bedroom. Presumably, this is where he discovered the escape found in science fiction and fantasy paperbacks and developed his extraordinary lifelong ability to block out all sound and speech around him while reading. He married Roxanne Berger on June 1, 1976, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They had two daughters, Patricia and Melissa, and made their home in La Center, Washington from 1981 to 1990, where both Roxanne and Milo were active in local politics. They had frequent poker nights with Milo’s longtime best friends, “Uncle Chris” and “Uncle Gene.” In 1990, the family relocated to Roxanne’s hometown of Wenatchee, Washington. Milo, never one to love anything halfway, made his woodworking hobby his career, working for many years as a cabinet maker. He completed his bachelor’s degree in finance from Central Washington University in 2000, studying alongside his teenage daughters. Roxanne died in 2002, following long struggles with multiple sclerosis. Milo was a devoted caregiver until her death and held the hand of his “sweet babboo” as she passed. Milo met Cynthia Brown while acting in a haunted house. He saved a piece of the latex “zombie skin” from the night they met in a box on his bedside table. Milo and Cynthia were married in Las Vegas in 2004 and became stalwarts of the Wenatchee theater community. A longtime fan of productions like Sweeney Todd and Master Harold and the Boys, which he introduced to his daughters via VHS tapes of PBS Masterpiece, Milo dove into the world of set design, designing and building, or constructing 54 theatrical sets between 2002 and 2025. He took several turns at acting, notably as King Claudius in Hamlet and most recently, misanthropic environmentalist “Mighty Ron, the Human Druid,” which, if we’re being honest, was not that much of a stretch. He was a proud step-grandpa to Althea and Josh’s four children. He loved The Lord of the Rings and once had a guinea pig named Frodo. His “evil laugh” was legendary. Despite never learning to read music, he was a lifelong flute player, a gifted improviser, and a collector of wind instruments, including penny whistles in every key. He loved rhubarb and was fond of sharing his tips for getting the temperamental pie filling to set, which usually involved observations of the phase of the moon and the relative humidity. He had years of presidential debates and seasons of Doctor Who (the Tom Baker era, specifically) on VHS tapes labeled in his characteristic careful printing. Milo cultivated a love of the arts and, in particular, the written and spoken word. Wherever he went, he always brought a book, but on the rare occasion he didn’t, could usually find one. He faithfully modeled a modest and creative life and was an exemplar of the deep human value of working with one’s hands. Most of all, those he loved, he loved completely and unwaveringly. We were lucky to be among that number. Arrangements are through Jones and Jones Betts Funeral Home of Wenatchee. Milo was not concerned with his earthly remains and elected cremation. A celebration of life will be held 4 pm Sunday June 8th at the Riverside Playhouse. Attendees are invited to take home a book from his collection. All will be welcome to share their memories of Milo, or of mighty Ron. In lieu of flowers, please go see a good play, or donate to the Music Theatre of Wenatchee Building Fund via mtow.org or at PO Box 3042, Wenatchee WA 98807.

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David Milo Klanke

March 18, 1956 - May 21, 2025