Mary Elizabeth Klutzke

Oct. 1, 1929 – Feb. 13, 2022

Mary Elizabeth Wildman Klutzke, 92, rural Wingate, passed away in her home on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022 following a period of failing health.

She was born Mary Elizabeth Wildman to Fenton and Pauline (Greve) Wildman at their home in Newtown, Oct. 1, 1929.

She married Robert Benjamin Klutzke at St. Bonifice Catholic Church in Lafayette on May 8, 1948. They were married 71 years.

She was the middle child of 11. She grew up in Fountain County on a farm between Mellott and Newtown, and attended Richland Township High School until her senior year when her family moved to Greenhill. She graduated from Otterbein High School and she met her future husband who had attended rival school Montmorenci. After graduating in 1947 she worked at the Purdue Dairy Barn for a couple of years. She and Bob helped his dad work the family farm south of Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, then moved to a farm near Romney for a couple of years. In 1962 they purchased and moved to their own farm outside of Wingate in Fountain County.

Survivors include her seven children, Ken (Rosann) Klutzke of Roseville, Minn., Christine Setze of Muncie, Jerry (Mary) Klutzke of Wichita, Kan., Barbara Meihls of Lafayette, Larry (Jane) Klutzke of Carmel, Dennis (Robin) Klutzke of Greenwood and Carl (Karen) Klutzke of Carmel. She had 18 grandchildren (although she considered their spouses her grandchildren too) and 22 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Catherine Hampton of Crawfordsville; plus sister-in-laws, Sue Wildman and Evelyn Hanover; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; her siblings, Marge West, Ralph Wildman, Viola Talbott Weigle, James Wildman, Rena Wildman (at age 5), Charles Wildman, William Wildman, Ethel Holland and Thomas Philo Wildman; plus son-in-laws, Peter Setze and Donald Meihls.

Visitation hours are scheduled 5 – 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, 2022 and funeral services are 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022 at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Father Michael Bower from St Bernard Catholic Church Crawfordsville will officiate the funeral. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Wingate.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Fountain County 4-H Council, 301 Fourth Street, Covington, IN 47932 or Riley Children’s Foundation, PO Box 3356, Indianapolis, IN 46206. To sign the guest book or leave a condolence, visit www.familyandfriendsfh.com.