Betty Louise Klitzke, age 81,  passed away on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at her home in Shawano. She was welcomed into heaven by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, her son Jeff, her parents Gib and Dorothy, and her brother Jerry. Betty was born on May 23, 1943, to Gilbert and Dorothy (Conradt) Schmidt in Appleton, Wisconsin. After her father returned from the service, the young family moved to Clintonville. Betty attended St. Martin Lutheran School and graduated from Clintonville Senior High School with the class of 1961. On September 29, 1962, she married Gary R. Klitzke at St. Martin Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Shawano where they raised their three sons. Betty was a faithful member of St. James Lutheran Church where she was involved in teaching Sunday School, VBS, and the Bethel Bible series in her younger years. She also taught Junior Achievement and was a Friends of Hospice volunteer. Betty was a cheerleader for her grandchildren playing sports. Gary and Betty enjoyed travelling and have visited all 50 states. They also enjoyed time spent at their up north cabin with family and friends. Betty was an avid basket weaver, traveling with her Road Sister friends to many states to weave baskets. She also met with friends for lunch every Wednesday for over 35 years. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and Gigi but she was also a fighter having battled ovarian cancer and thyroid cancer.

Betty is survived by her husband of 62 years, Gary; her son Tim (Joan) and their children Kaitlin (Brandon) Bloomer and their sons Beau, Everett and Miles; Emily (fiancé Nick); Megan (Sean) and Morgan (Nathaniel) Schaefer; her son Dan (fiancé Kristin) and his children; Amanda (Bryan); Ben (Dima); Kristin’s son Gage; and sister Linda (Don); Bohman brothers, Bob (Jane) Schmidt and Jim (Sue) Schmidt; and in-laws Nancy Moede, Kathy Kuhn, and Sue (Lloyd) Knope.

Funeral services will be held at St. James Lutheran Church at 11:00am on Friday, November 8, 2024, with Vicar David Kaiser officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 9:30am until the time of the service. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Betty’s memory to St. James Lutheran Church, ThedaCare Friends of Hospice, or St. Jude Cancer Center for children.

Betty’s family would like to extend a special thank you to ThedaCare at Home Hospice for their wonderful care.

Swedberg Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. of Shawano is assisting Betty’s family with the arrangements.