A funeral service will be held on Sunday Jan. 11, at 4 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Grafton for Debrah "Deb" Sue Klug (nee Van Cleave), 53, of Germantown and formerly of Grafton. She passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Jan. 2, 2004. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 1:30 until time of service. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Mequon. Mueller Funeral Home of Cedarburg is assisting the family.
Mrs. Klug was born Aug. 2, 1950 in Newton, Iowa, and moved with her family to Grafton in 1958. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1968 and graduated from the School of Cosmetology at MATC in 1970. On Aug.14, 1971 she married Tom Klug of Mequon at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grafton. She stayed at home to raise their two daughters and follow Tom's career, which relocated them to Midlothian, Va., followed by Downers Grove, Ill., and eventually back to Grafton. After the children started school Mrs. Klug held a variety of positions such as: personnel manager at Kmart and school bus driver prior to graduating Carlson Academy of Travel in 1988 as a travel consultant. She found her niche in the travel business and decided with Tom to open up Summit Travel in 1992 in Menomonee Falls.
Deb's passion for the travel business often took her places to better aid clients in their trip planning. She offered more to her clients with firsthand experience on Egypt, Alaska, Costa Rica, and many other Caribbean destinations. She maintained an active membership in many associations relating to the travel industry including: Wisconsin Travel Agents Association, American Society of Travel Agents, Cruise Line International Association, International Airline Travel Agent Network and Wisconsin Women and Travel.
Other than a love for travel, Deb enjoyed other activities with her husband that included taking day trips on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle or in their Corvettes, going to baseball games, playing cards or just socializing with family and friends. She also belonged to organizations such as the National Corvette Restorer Society, Harley Owners Group and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Deb supported her husband during his active duty as a member of the National Guard. Her tremendous involvement awarded Deb the Molly Pitcher Award for her support to the soldier of the field artillery. She was also a life member of the Wisconsin National Guard Enlisted Association Auxiliary. Deb supported many community charitable organizations such as: The Menomonee Falls Little League, The Village Centre of Menomonee Falls marketing committee as well as local business organizations.
Deb loved being an active part of her children's lives. She enjoyed sewing special costumes for Halloween and baking special cakes for her children, friends, activities and parties. She actively supported her children during their membership in the Cedarburg Thunderbolts Color Guard. Deb continued supporting her daughters' activities throughout the years.
She was beloved wife and business partner of Thomas D. Klug; loving mother of Kelly and Tammy (Mark) Widowski; proud Nonna of Brayden; daughter of Thomas and Florence (Nichols) Van Cleave; sister of Thomas (Lois), Larry (fianc e Pamela Peter), Cathy (Brian) Collins, Mark (Dana) Van Cleave and Dennis (Patricia) Nichols. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Brayden Widowski knew Deb as Nonna - grandmother in Italian - and spent every Thursday with her when his Mom went to work. Two more grandchildren are on their way in 2004, which saddened Deb to know she would not be there for their births. She continued to plan for their births until the very end. Deb will be sorrowfully missed by all that knew her loving, caring and selfless giving.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society appreciated.