Barbara Louise Klotz

Barbara Louise Klotz

November 21, 1934 - November 24, 2022

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Obituary

MADISON - Barbara Louise (Hennings) Klotz was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 21, 1934, and passed away on Nov. 24, 2022, at Capitol Lakes Retirement Community in Madison. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Anita Hennings, sister, Nancy; and husband, Jerome. She is survived by son, Marshall; daughter, Jennifer Bartholomew (Rick); granddaughter, Melissa Stenberg (Peter); grandson, Nicholas Bartholomew (Eric); great-grand twins, Audrey and Benjamin; and cousin, Arthur Bode.


Barbara was a proud graduate of UC-Berkeley where she met Jerry, her husband of 50 years. She was a traditional homemaker of her generation. She loved literature and read constantly (though she never got through all of the New Yorkers). During the 1970s and 80s she volunteered in the public schools and became an advocate for children with developmental disabilities. She was nominated by Governor Martin Schreiber to serve on the Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy’s Board of Directors (1977-1982). She was a dedicated lover of the arts, especially opera, ballet and the American Players Theatre in Spring Green. She and Jerry were a colorful pair when bicycling on their custom tandem. They embraced new cultures during short sabbaticals in Singapore and Yogyakarta. Barbara was also able to travel to India, China, Japan, Europe, Russia, and Churchill, Manitoba (to see the Northern Lights).


Nana taught us to love the finer things in life and stood by the motto “scrimp on the necessities to afford the luxuries.” Nana introduced her grandchildren to the delights of the opera. She made Christmas synonymous with lamb and chutney and little red envelopes. Nana loved to sew and knit. She made many leper bandages (with the smallest needles) and children’s sweaters for charity. She had a whole sewing room devoted to her favorite Vogue patterns. Nana loved Mahjong and we would regularly play while we spent time with her during the holidays.


Many thanks to Brighton Hospice and the dedicated and caring staff at Capitol Lakes in the Health Care Center, Assisted Living and Memory Care. They took such good care of her over the last two and a half years, during the most trying times of COVID and dementia.


A memorial service will be held at ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1833 Regent St., Madison, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew’s, the University of Wisconsin Opera Props, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420


Events

07
Memorial Service
Sat Jan 7, 2023 @ 10:00 AM CDT
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church • 1833 Regent Street, Madison, WI 53726
Get Directions
07
Memorial Service
Sat Jan 7, 2023 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church • 1833 Regent Street, Madison, WI 53726
Get Directions

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Barbara
TP
Trish Pulvermacher
Other •
I am so sorry to read of Barbara's passing. She was a student of mine in my sewing classes for many years. Her sewing skills and fabric choices were often the envy of the class! More importantly, she was a wonderful, kind person and it was a pleasure to know her and work with her. My sympathies to her family, whom she always spoke so lovingly of.
AP
Alice Pawley
Other •
So sorry to hear Barbara has died. We spent many wonderful Christmases with her family, and I remember sailing to her house on the lake and making ice cream in an old-fashioned ice-cream maker in the yard. I hope her passing was easy - may her memory be a blessing. ❤️
CK
Carol Cameron & Russ Kumai
Other •
We are saddened to hear of Barbara's passing. We met Barbara and Jerry in a city sponsored ballroom dance class in the late 70's and soon learned we had many interests in common, including bicycling, opera, and Indonesia. We made several short overnight bike trips with them out of Madison. We were lucky to have both Barbara and Jerry in our lives.
CP
Christine Pawley
Other •
I am so sorry to hear that Barbara has died. We were very good friends for a long time, especially during the 1980s and 1990s. We met at St Andrew's, and then discovered common interests, particularly in music, art, and literature. We would meet for lunch, or at concerts. Many years our families celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving together (I will try to look out photos). My children fondly remember sailing to the Klotz dock for a backyard barbecue. After Jim and I moved to British Columbia, Barbara promised to come out and see us, but never made it. The last time I actually talked to her was in March 2019 when she called me with comforting advice after Jim died. Barbara was a wonderful friend—knowledgeable, witty, wise, and affectionate, and I miss her. I’m very sorry for your loss; please accept my and my family’s deepest condolences.
RW
Rosalind Woodward
Other •
We, too met at St. Andrew's and also shared many good times with Barbara, often with the Pawleys. I have memories of supporting her during the difficult times after Jerry died, and when it became obvious the house was too big our recommendations helped navigate some of the more practical aspects of preparing a house for sale. After she moved, I visited at Capitol Lakes on numerous occasions. The last time I saw her was after she moved to memory care when I dropped in unexpectedly. We had a lovely visit just before lunch. She was as usual gracious and charming, and we talked about the things she loved, shared news of our families and reminisced about commonalities. It is sad the last years covid has made such visits much more difficult. I miss her gentle spirit. My sincere condolences to her family and friends for your loss. I hope to be at St. Andrew's for the Memorial Service.
PS
Paul Schoeneman
Other •
I was Barbara’s landscape designer and gardener for her Madison lakefront Sherman Avenue backyard garden. We planned and created that garden during Jerry’s illness’. She said she ‘wanted something to look at during that extended time. I lived a block away from her house and Barbara would regularly call me and say; ‘my garden is in need of your ministrations’. Barbara always offered me a Sprerkers Root Beer as a refreshment. At the Christmas holiday she invited me over for some holiday refreshments served on her indoor sun porch picnic table. This included cookies, dessert bars and probably fruit cake. When she moved to Capitol Lakes she gave me her garden tools and that picnic table and benches. Barbara always listened very intently to whatever I had to share. She would put her knitting down so that she could give me her undivided attention. We were both friends of Bob. pschoeneman55@gmail.com

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