Mary Ann Klopp

Mary Ann Klopp

Sept. 30, 1947 - Feb. 18, 2024

STOUGHTON - Mary Ann Klopp (nee Day), age 76, passed away after a prolonged illness on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Agrace HospiceCare surrounded by her family.

She was born in Madison, WI, on September 30, 1947, to Burton and Rosemary Day. Mary grew up in Madison and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1965. She attended UW-Whitewater in liberal arts and was trained in computer programming at MATC. After working at WI DOT and marrying Eugene Houtman, she gave birth to their children Rebecca in 1973, and Benjamin in 1977.

She worked for 26 years as an Information Specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Labor and Human Relations until her retirement in 2003.

Mary and Eugene divorced in 1983. After getting to know each other for 11 years, Mary and her future husband Roger celebrated their 50th birthdays by getting married in 1997, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, with their families in tow on a whirlwind 400 mile round trip wedding day. During this time they shared interests in alpine skiing and motorcycling. Mary rode her BMW motorcycles over thousands of miles across the US.

Following her retirement in 2003 Mary pursued international travel with a passion. Persisting through the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, her feet walked the soil of over 60 countries. She shared detailed travel reports with friends at home. Her motto was "I haven't been everywhere but it's on my list." Her "favorite" trip was always the next one. In addition to travel, Mary had many hobbies including calligraphy, stained glass, painting, growing orchids, making chocolate truffles, basket weaving, and knitting. Her truffles were much desired by her friends and she freely shared her kitchen, making chocolate treats with anyone who was interested. An avid reader, she belonged to two book clubs and would usually be listening to audiobooks while knitting. She was a loyal Muskies and Brewers fan and attended many games, usually with former colleagues or family.

Crafting and travel were great passions for her, but distant seconds to her love of friendship, which is her greatest legacy. Among her very best friends were her husband and children. She believed her greatest achievement was raising two independent, bright, and creative children. Mary loved people and often acquired new friends during her travels. She made close friends at every stage of life and most remained lifelong friends. Many of them visited her at home during her last weeks of life and made their farewells at Agrace.

Mary's nature was to be one of the helpers. Already as a young mother, she helped organize a neighborhood babysitting coop. After some training through Pet Partners and Dogs on Call, she would visit grade schools, a UW stress reduction program, and nursing homes with her dog Penny. Mary volunteered as an usher at theaters and baseball games, delivered Meals on Wheels, and knitted many hundreds of baby hats for St. Mary's neonatal unit. She made home visits plus vigils with the dying for Hospice Care and then Agrace, thus coming full circle by ending her days there.

Mary is survived by her husband, Roger; daughter, Rebecca Houtman; son Benjamin Houtman (Julie Maness); sister-in-law, Judy Day; brother, Phil Day (Donna); sister-in-law, Carol Frank (Gary); brother-in-law, Stuart Klopp (Moni); brother-in-law, Paul Klopp (Tori); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, Burton and Rosemary; her brothers: Ted and Bill; her first husband, Eugene Houtman; and beloved aunts Phyllis Bessell and Margaret Batz.

The attentiveness and compassion of the Agrace home care and inpatient staff were exceptional and they cared for her tenderly. We are overwhelmed with gratitude to them all for making Mary's last days as comfortable as they could. We also thank her friends who helped to keep Mary safe at home as long as possible and for their emotional support.

There will be no funeral or burial service. Final arrangements are being made through Foster Funeral and Cremation Service. Her family is planning a springtime celebration of the beautiful life that Mary lived to the fullest despite her health problems. They will announce details at a later date.

The family requests that loved ones may honor her legacy by donating to dementia research, rheumatoid arthritis research, or to Agrace HospiceCare.

She will be missed by all of us who knew her kindness, generosity, and boundless enthusiasm for anything she decided was worth doing.