Rev. Louis J. KLOTZBACH

KLOTZBACH, SIPE, JONES, PAASCH, BRICKL, SMOCK, WILHITE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/14/2010 at 13:39:25

June 8, 2009
Baraboo News Republic, Wisconsin

Rev. Louis J. Klotzbach of North Freedom, retired minister of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church, died Friday, June 5, 2009 at the Maplewood Nursing Home in Sauk City, Wis. He was born in Klemme, Iowa on March 6, 1924 to Levi and Esther Klotzbach. During World War II, he served his country as a scout in Europe and as an MP in the Philippines. He was a member of VFW Post 987 in Baraboo. Louis was married on July 2, 1949 to Janet Sipe in Hummelstown, Penn. He served as a minister of the gospel in Murray and Monroe, Ind. from 1950 to 1957; in Hancock and Zearing, Iowa, and in the state of Wisconsin as an interim pastor at Whitehall, Arcadia and Independence. Then he later served in Waldo, Cascade and Hingham, Blackhawk, Kenosha and Marshall until he retired in 1986. He then moved to Athelstane, Wis. and served as part-time pastor for two Presbyterian Churches in Amberg and Pembine for about six years.

He leaves to mourn his passing and celebrate his life, his wife Janet of almost 60 years; his sons and daughters, Deborah (Darryl) Jones of Wheatfield, Ind., David (Rebecca) of Huntley, Ill., Daniel (Denise) of Elkhart Lake, Wis., Rebecca (Joel) Paasch of Hebron, Ind., Mark (Lou Ann) of Lake Village, Ind., and Janiece (Terry) Brickl of North Freedom, Wis.; 26 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Alan, Walter, and Floyd; and his sisters, Ilo Smock and Phylis Wilhite.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at the Emanuel United Methodist Church in Baraboo with Pastor Blake Overlien officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials may be made to the Emanuel United Methodist Church; the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation; or VFW Post 987. The Redlin Funeral Home is assisting the family. We wish to thank the kind and gracious staff at Maplewood Nursing Home who gave him tireless and loving care for the last six months, and to Dr. Varley.