Obituary: Betty Marie Whipple

Betty Marie Whipple, 91, of Sturgeon Bay, died August 1, 2017 at the Door County Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility.

She was born August 16, 1925, in Escanaba, MI, the daughter of Clarence John Schroeder and Celeste Marie (Belanger) Schroeder. Betty attended grade school in Ford River, MI and moved to Wisconsin at the age of 17 when her father came to Sturgeon Bay to work in the shipyards during WWII. She worked as an electrician’s assistant at Leathem Smith Shipbuilding (later Christy Corporation) where her father was an electrical foreman. Betty waitressed at the Pilot House and other area restaurants and also cleaned at the Peterson Builders, Inc. (PBI) engineering building.

She was united in marriage to Roy Howard Whipple on December 20, 1952 in Green Bay. They were blessed with over 55 years of marriage together. Roy passed away March 31, 2008.

Betty was a member of St. Joseph Parish and the American Legion Post 72 Auxiliary, both in Sturgeon Bay, and the Island City Rebekah Lodge No. 21. She loved sewing and knitting and crocheting, hats, mittens, and other creations for family, friends, and other community members. Betty even taught crocheting at the Door County Senior Citizen Resource Center. She also enjoyed gardening. Above all, Betty took wonderful care of her family and home; family was central in her life.

Her love will live on in the hearts of her five children, Jeffrey Whipple, Phillip Whipple, both of Sturgeon Bay, Celeste (Bill) Withers of Iron River, Rebecca (Scott) Haines, and Rachelle (Richard) Olson, both of Sturgeon Bay; daughter-in-law, Rebecca (William) Hann of Fort Atkinson; ten grandchildren, Travis (Shannon) Zajac and Briana (Patrick) Cleary, Devin (Lincoln Stutting) Whipple, Joshua (Tina) Withers, Benjamin Levi (Jessie) Withers, and Billie Jo Withers, Alyssa (Kevin) Perry and Braeden Haines, and Matthias and Claire Olson; nine great-grandchildren, Lauren and Ty Zajac, Braylin and Elyse Cleary, Ezra Stutting, Leah Withers, Amelia and Ivan Withers, and Trent Perry; brother, Robert (Sherron) Schroeder of Kenosha; sister-in-law, Clara Whipple of Montello; other relatives; and friends.

Betty was welcomed Home by her parents; husband, Roy; son, Richard “Rick” Zajac; three sisters and brother, Joyce Ann Schroeder, Jane (Albert) Carollo, Dorothy (Rex) Larmour, and John Schroeder; and many siblings-in-law (the Whipple family), John, Lucy (Bill) Fiecko, Myrtle (Martin) Gleason, Erastus (Lucille), Virginia (John) Carlson, James (Marcella), Raymond (Bernice), Ralph, Irene (Don) Anschutz, Bernette (Woodrow) Dufrene, Beulah (Herman) LaBorde, Mary Lou (Chuck) Sargent, William (Laila), and Charles.

Her life was honored with a funeral service Aug. 5, 2017 at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay with Chaplain John Viste officiating. Betty was laid to rest in St. Joseph Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Betty’s memory for the Boys & Girls Club of Door County or the Christ Child Society of Door County.

“Our family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Cardinal Ridge CBRF and the DCMC Skilled Nursing Facility for the excellent care given to Betty over the years.”

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Betty may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.