Karlene Gartzke

Karlene Ann Gartzke, 89, of Wilmington, Ohio, was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven on August 10, 2025.

Kerry was born in Los Angeles, California on February 10, 1936, where she began the life-journey God perfectly planned for her. Her parents, as busy owners of a pharmacy on Glendale Blvd., sent her to Brown Girls Boarding School in CA, unbeknownst to them it was a Christian school, where at age 11, she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior; Kerry saying it was the most important moment of her life.

The school was affiliated with John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, where she attended studying Radio Production. It is at JBU where she would meet her husband, Donald Graham Gartzke, a Korean War veteran studying engineering. He was the school's star athlete, and she was the beautiful campus queen. They wed in her second year in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, where Don's family lived. They had two children, Dana and Kym, in Arkansas before moving to Denver.

Don's work took them around the country, with Kerry perfectly managing setting up households, with children in tow. They had a child in Colorado, Heather, and then moved to Connecticut, had two more children, Stephanie and Beth; next to Michigan and their last child, Andrew. While in Michigan, they spent time with Don's sister and her family of 5 kids, the same ages as theirs; playing cards every weekend – where Kerry learned to be a card shark, and the whole family enjoyed throughout the years. They also lived in Florida before settling, empty-nested, on the North Shore of Boston in Ipswich where they lived for over 30 years – the longest time in one place; and Kerry's favorite, with a lot of church friends and a big, wonderful life that was well deserved.

Kerry was an active member of all her churches, especially Grace PCA of Stuart, FL and First Presbyterian of Ipswich, MA, where she shared her love of music and her beautiful, gifted voice to glorify the Lord.

Kerry's wanderlust took her around the world; she loved road trips throughout the U.S. with her children and grandchildren creating enduring memories. Her favorite trip - Christmas in London – she said was magical.

Kerry was a talented and devoted quilter producing many works of art. Anyone who is lucky to have been given one will consider it an heirloom. Kerry was also an excellent cuisinier, sharing her cooking talent and great taste with friends and family, teaching her grand and great-grandchildren how to cook. She also was a veracious reader which kept her informed and interesting throughout her life.

The biggest gift she gave during her lifetime was raising her children to know of the Lord and living a beautiful example of a Christian marriage for 54 years.

Kerry, matriarch and queen of our hearts, will be greatly missed by her 6 children, Dana (Joy) Gartzke, Azle, TX; Kym (Rick) Maples, Wilmington, OH; Heather Hackett, Jupiter, FL; Stephanie Gartzke, Vero Beach, FL; Beth (Mitch) English, Gainesville, GA; Andrew Gartzke, Wilmington, OH; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great grandchildren – a wonderful legacy. Kerry will be greeted in Heaven by her beloved husband, Don, and her son-in-law, Tim Hackett. Together their absences leave a hole in our hearts, but we know God has called them to His eternal glory in Christ.

A celebration of life will be shared at a later date.

Smith Funeral Home in Wilmington is serving the family. For more information or to leave a note of condolence visit www.smithandsonfuneralhomes.com.