Helen Elizabeth (Ploughe) Klitzke

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Klitzke, Helen Elizabeth (Ploughe) [83], passed away on November 12, 2016 at her St. Paul, MN apartment. She was surrounded by her husband (Louis), and three sons (Peter, Paul and Philip) at the time of her passing, and blessed with visits from Jody, Shirley and Joanna Klitzke. Her family and friends called her Liz. To Lou she was often Lizzie. Liz was born to Reverend Joseph and Lucille (Wright) Ploughe in Great Bend Kansas, October 4, 1933. Her father Joe was a Methodist Minister and the family moved around the state of Kansas during her up bringing. She graduated from Hutchinson high school in 1951. She attended Southwestern College in Winfield Kansas where she met her husband of 63 years, Louis Klitzke. They were married in June 1953. After raising her three sons, Liz earned a bachelor's degree and a masters degree from the University of Wisconsin Stout (1973) in Menomonie Wisconsin. She held a number of positions in Menomonie, including chair of U of W - Stout research program evaluating the effectiveness of high school vocational / technical schools programs across Wisconsin in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. When Lou retired in 1989, they moved to the Twin Cities where she worked for the University of Minnesota overseeing research grants from the School of Agriculture. Liz was an active marathon runner with many awards for her age group and gender. She and Lou were avid travelers including two years from 1966 1968 in Tanzania Africa. The family took several 'safaris' throughout Tanzania from Mt Kilimanjaro, to the Serengeti Plains, and to Zanzibar Island, and the Iringa region. On the way back from Africa the family bought a Volkswagen camper bus in Rome Italy and drove through Europe for several months. Liz was determined to travel on '$5 a day', per a travel guide she followed studiously. She and Lou returned to Tanzania two more times as educators and volunteers. Liz was an accomplished pianist, and church music director. Music was an important aspect of her life. She served on the Menomonie City council for a number of years. After retirement Lou and Liz sold their rustic northern Wisconsin cabin, and bought homes first outside Tucson and then in Sedona, AZ which became their winter home for 13 years. In 2004 Liz started showing signs of memory loss so they moved back to Minnesota into a progressive care facility. Over the next 12 years she gradually declined until full memory care services were required. Liz was preceded in death by her older brother Joseph Ploughe junior, her parents Joseph Ploughe senior, Lucille (Wright) Ploughe, and Thelma (Snyder) Ploughe. Liz is survived by husband Louis L Klitzke (St. Paul), sons Peter L (Carol) Klitzke (La Crosse WI), Paul S (Peggy Cavanaugh) Klitzke (Roseville MN), Philip R (Jody) Klitzke (Blaine MN), and grandchildren Andrew Klitzke (De Pierre SD), Bethany Klitzke (Atlanta GA), Joanna Klitzke (St. Paul MN), David (Lauren) Klitzke (La Crosse WI), Caleb Klitzke (Tucson AZ), Emma Klitzke (Roseville MN), and Leo Klitzke (Roseville MN). A private memorial service will be held with the immediate family. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to The Alzheimer's Association (ALZ.org).

Published on November 20, 2016