Mary E. Klatt

Mary Ellen Klatt, age 80, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at The Residence at Oshkosh, with her daughters by her side. For almost 20 years, Mary bravely battled Parkinson's Disease with tenacity, humor, strength, and courage, even in her final days.

Mary was born on Mother's Day on May 14, 1944 in Sheboygan, WI. She was the middle child of the late Joseph and Hildegarde (Fetterer) Kraus. She attended Holy Name Catholic elementary school and graduated from Sheboygan North High School in 1962. After high school she attended Alverno College in Milwaukee, where she met her husband, Ralph, at a school dance. She later graduated from UW-Green Bay with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

Ralph and Mary settled in Brown Deer, WI where they made several lifelong friends and hosted many basement and backyard parties. They were active in the Jaycees/Jaycettes where Mary held various leadership roles including president, and led blood drives, Santa's Workshops, brat fries, and many other civic-minded events.

In 1974, they purchased then ran a successful dairy farm in Gillett, WI where they learned by trial and error how to milk cows, birth calves, plant/harvest crops, shovel manure, and everything else that goes into farming. In 1976, they received the Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer award. Mary loved to grow vegetables and beautiful flowers and even found time to bowl on Tuesdays. Mary worked from sun up to sun down all the while raising two daughters, finishing college, teaching religion classes, leading Girl Scout troops, and substitute teaching. No matter how busy she was, she always had time for family and friends.

In retirement, Ralph and Mary moved to a lake home on Shawano Lake, where they spent 25 years living a wonderful lake life. Grandma Mary cherished her summers with her grandchildren at the lake. She loved to play cards and board games, watch movies, take a boat ride, and monitor their shenanigans on the slip n' slide, jet ski, pedal boat, or golf cart. Mary was an avid book reader, and passed her love of reading to her daughters. Mary was also active in the Gillett Women's Club and in several bridge groups. Winters were spent with family and friends on South Padre Island in Texas.

Mary will be remembered as a kind-hearted and generous soul, with a warm smile, contagious giggle, and love for all things silly. She was a wonderful listener, compassionate human, and quiet leader. Her legacy reminds us to stop and smell the daylilies, never sweat the small stuff, learn something new on a trip to the zoo or museum, and always lead with kindness.

Mary is survived by her devoted daughters, Kelly (Eric) Caughlan and their children, Justin and Joshua, and Kathy (Doug) Slife, and their children, Drew and Zoe; her very special brothers, Ed Kraus and Steve (Joan) Kraus; her sisters-in-law, Sandy Klatt and Debbie (John) Hoeppner; two nephews, Andy (Abby) Dean and Jarrid (Lauren) Hoeppner; five nieces, Megan (Charlie) Truitt, Molly (Chris) Dwan, Gretchen Kraus, Amy (Joe) Hoff, Briana (Nick) Joyce and their children. She is also survived by several cousins and many good friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years; her sister-in-law Mary Kraus; her sister-in-law Candy Roepke; and a very special cousin, Sue Schneider.

The family would like to thank those who extended a special effort to keep in touch with Mary while she was at the The Residence in Oshkosh. A very special thank you to Phyllis Schloskey and Doreen Slife for your regular visits, and to Agnes Zwijacz for your special friendship.

A special thank you to the staff (past and present) at The Residence at Oshkosh (including the therapy staff at Powerback) who have become like family to us. We will never underestimate the value of the work you do, how hard you work, and what truly caring, respectful, and compassionate humans you are. Thank you. Each and every one of you are appreciated.

A memorial service for Mary will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:00am, at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Dr., Oshkosh, with Lyn Zahorik officiating. A time of visitation will take place at 9:00am until the start of the service. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Sheboygan, at a later date.

Gifts in Mary's memory can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at https://www.michaeljfox.org/ or a local charity of your choice. Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home in Oshkosh is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences can be expressed at https://www.konrad-behlman.com/

As she begins eternal life with our Lord and Savior, we rejoice in knowing the angels will welcome her home with loving and open arms.