Clarine Elizabeth Kiehl Downs

Clarine Kiehl Downs, age 96, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, in her Orem home, surrounded by her five loving daughters. Clarine was born on October 30, 1929, to August Otto Kiehl and Adeline Tieman Kiehl in Malta Bend, Missouri.

Clarine grew up on the family-owned farm in Malta Bend. Though her father passed away when she was only 6 years old, Clarine had fond memories of getting dressed up to go into town with her father and of singing “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by his bedside while he was ill. After her father passed, she helped her mother and siblings around the farm by milking the cows, feeding the barn animals, and doing other farm chores. Clarine loved admiring her mother’s flowerbeds, playing games with her siblings and friends, and riding her beloved pony, Sparkle.

She attended Lutheran Parochial School in Mt. Leonard, Missouri, for grade school and graduated from Malta Bend High School as valedictorian and basketball star. She then attended Valparaiso University in Indiana before transferring to the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree and, more importantly, met her eternal sweetheart, Robert Henry Downs.

Together, Robert and Clarine started their lives in Kansas City. They and their growing family moved throughout Missouri, Kansas, South Dakota, and Virginia before finally moving to Orem, Utah, where they stayed for the remainder of their lives and raised their family of five beautiful girls. Clarine and Robert both taught vocal performance at Brigham Young University.

Clarine had a deep love for her savior, Jesus Christ, throughout her life, which was rooted in the Lutheran faith. In February of 1960, she was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was sealed to her family for time and all eternity in the summer of 1962. She served faithfully in every calling she received within the church.

After retirement, Clarine served a mission with her husband in Cape Town, South Africa, which was an incredibly important experience to her. Throughout their retirement years, Clarine enjoyed traveling with her husband, both domestically and abroad. Clarine loved experiencing other cultures and had a great love and respect for them. Together, they traveled throughout Europe and North America, often in their RV.

Clarine is known for her remarkable work ethic, wonderful quilts, and, of course, her incredible singing voice. She loved spending quality time with her family and playing games (especially Dummy Rummy!), which she did up until her final days on this earth. She was an amazing woman who was extremely energetic, thoughtful, grateful, and a friend to all.

She is preceded in death by her adoring husband, Robert Henry Downs. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn (Vaughn) Thacker, Debra Downs, Rebecca (Gary) Broderick, Lisa Bearnson, and Angela (Ronny) Ash-Walthers; and her grandchildren, Chiara, Melanie, Robert, Bryant, Garrett, Amy, Jared, Heather, Christopher, Casey, Tyson, Chelsea, Tyler, Stefyn, Kade, Collin, Brecken, Sage, Michal, Mallory, Sam, and Daniel; and her 47 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

An evening viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, from 6–8 pm at Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. A final viewing will then be held on Thursday, March 19th, from 9:30–10:30 am before her funeral at 11:00 am at the LDS chapel located at 195 W 300 S, Orem, Utah.

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