Arlene Kalmbach

Arlene Genevieve Kalmbach, 81, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away Sunday, October 26, 2008 at her daughter’s home in Kennewick. Memorial graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the Ephrata Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Moses Lake with Pastor Robert Kenyan officiating. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. You may sign the guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com Viewing will take place at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories on Thursday, October 30 from noon until 7:00 p.m. and Friday morning from 8:00 a.m. until noon. Arlene was born on September 24, 1927 on a farm near Northgate, Saskatchewan, Canada to the late Anna Josephine Mellom & Goodman Joakim Norwick. She was baptized on November 6, 1927 at Kopperud Lutheran Church and was later confirmed by Pastor Wesley Anderson in Northgate, North Dakota. Arlene was raised and educated in North Dakota graduating from Kenmare High School in 1945. She attended Business College in Minot, North Dakota. On September 1, 1946 she married Herbert Harland Kalmbach at the Nazarene Church in Kenmare, North Dakota. The couple moved to Washington State in 1952. Arlene worked as a secretary at Grant Elementary School in Ephrata, Washington from 1959 until 1969. They moved to Colville, Washington where she worked for the Kettle Falls School District until 1973. They moved back to the Columbia Basin and made Moses Lake their home. She started a new job at Big Bend Community College in the purchasing department for a few short months then was offered the position of Secretary to the Vocational Education Director. In 1987 she retired after 21 years with Washington State Education. Mr. Kalmbach passed away September 19, 1986. Arlene was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and served in the ILCW, Bible Study and Caring Hearts organizations. In earlier years she served as a Sunday School Teacher at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ephrata. She was also active in TOPS and Sons of Norway. She enjoyed square dancing, clogging, and oil painting. Arlene is survived by her son Steven (Kelly) Kalmbach of Kennewick, WA; 2 daughters Sheri (Bob) Adkinson of Kennewick, WA and Kim (Stephen) Graddon of Federal Way, WA; 9 grandchildren, Joel & Jason (Courtney) Dirks, Tony (Crystal) and Morgan Kalmbach, Matt (Becky) McGregor, Kari (Phil) Kauffman, Stephen, Joseph and Adrienne Graddon; 4 great-grandchildren, Emma McGregor, Lily Kalmbach, Isaac and Grace Kauffman; a brother, Milo (Barbara) Norwick of Custer, South Dakota; 2 sisters, Lillian (Neal) Lucke and Nona (Evald) Sielaff-Leaf all of Moses Lake; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Lyle & Don Norwick and a grandson, Michael Kalmbach.

Arlene Kalmbach

September 24, 1927 - October 26, 2008