Erna Kluetz

Erna L. Kluetz, 94, of Wausau, passed away Monday, December 8, 2014, at Hospice House, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. Erna was born March 14, 1920, in Rib Falls, the youngest of three daughters of Frank H. and Amanda (Krahn) Artus.

In her early years the family owned and operated the West Side Hotel in Wausau. After selling the hotel the family lived on Wausau's West side for a short time before moving to a farm in the Town of Wausau, near Nutterville, when she was about 10. There she developed a strong work ethic doing farm chores for her father, but also acquired the exceptional cooking and baking skills of her mother. At age 16 she also worked as a housekeeper for a prominent family in Wausau.

On May 15, 1938, she was united in marriage with Raymond A. Kluetz at the First Methodist Church in Wausau by Rev. H.C. Stahmer. Her work ethic and cooking skills were quickly put to the test as they joined Ray's father in working the family farm in the Town of Maine. There they raised their three children. After they quit farming in 1964 she worked at Luther's Cheese Store. They moved off the homestead to their first new house in Wausau in 1990. They went on many vacations and bus tours during their retirement years, seeing much of the U.S. as well as Canada. Ray preceded her in death on November 7, 2003.

In addition to Ray, she was preceded in death by daughter, Judy Klug of Kronenwetter on October 22, 2014; and by grandson-in-law, Steven Bjerke in 2007.

Erna is survived by her sisters, Mildred Kirkpatrick (Rockford, IL) and Mary Stone (Wausau); daughter, Mary (Patrick) Plunkett of Wausau; son, Michael Kluetz of Merrill; and son-in-law, Kenneth Klug of Kronenwetter. She is also survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren: Lisa (Greg) Nowicki and daughter, Anna, Athens; Sara (Michael) Agamaite and sons, Collin and Carson Bjerke, Oconomowoc; Karl (Mayumi) Kluetz and daughters, Shannon and Jasmine, Seattle, WA; and Erik (Estreitta) Kluetz, Fort Worth, TX.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Town of Maine, where Erna was a faithful member for 76 years. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Wausau.

You may sign the family guestbook at www.helke.com.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ivan Schaller for many years of overseeing her general health, and the staff of the Hospice House for making her last few weeks as comfortable as possible.

Memorials may be directed to St. John Church, 5304 N. 44th Ave., Wausau, in Erna's name.