Mrs. Elizabeth Klettke

Lovingly Remembered – Elizabeth Klettke

June 1, 1935 – August 10, 2022

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.” John 11:25

Elizabeth Klettke – beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – entered the presence of her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at the age of 87 years.

Elizabeth (Liz/Lisbeth) was born in Somogyszil (Sil), Somogy County, Hungary, as the second of three children born to George and Christine Maerz. Her close-knit extended family lived and worked together on their homestead farm in Somogyszil, where their lives centered around family and faith. Her parents loved and served the Lord Jesus Christ, valued family and were genuine examples of being devoted to God and caring for others. Family devotions were a daily routine and they were actively involved in the ministries of their church.

From childhood, Elizabeth memorized scripture and loved to sing hymns of praise. Her father was the church choir director and Elizabeth loved to attend practice. At that time, one of her favorite hymns was “Gott Ist Getreu” translated as:

“God is faithful! His heart, His father’s heart, never leaves His own. God is faithful in grief and in pain,

He holds and protects His own. He covers them with His Almighty wings.

Even if mountains cave in or hills fall, God is faithful, God is faithful.”

God repeatedly demonstrated His faithfulness, grace, protection and provision to Elizabeth and her family. On December 1, 1944, the Maerz family were forced to leave their home and flee from Hungary to Germany. During their traumatic journey, nine-year-old Elizabeth accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was filled with His ‘peace that passes all understanding’ (Phil. 4:7a). The Maerz family temporarily settled in Germany from 1944 to 1951, where they made it a priority to worship God with fellow believers. At the age of thirteen, Elizabeth made a public commitment to the Lord Jesus during evangelistic meetings held in Ludwigsburg, Germany and was later baptized upon profession of her faith. Elizabeth loved the Lord deeply and served Him joyfully for the remainder of her life.

In 1951, the Maerz family were accepted for immigration to Canada through the Baptist World Alliance. It was in Bremen, Germany that Elizabeth first met her future husband, Arthur Klettke. In April of 1951, Elizabeth and her family arrived in their new home of Canada. After fulfilling their sugar beet contract in the Lethbridge area, they moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where Elizabeth was employed at a nursing home called “The Baptist Haven of Rest”.

In 1952, Elizabeth briefly attended the Christian Training Institute in Edmonton. When Arthur Klettke moved to Medicine Hat, Elizabeth and Arthur’s love grew. They were engaged on Easter Sunday and united in marriage on July 11, 1953. The couple were blessed with two daughters, Edith and Betty. In January of 1961, Elizabeth, Arthur and their daughters moved to Calgary, where they were active members of Temple Baptist Church (now Renfrew Baptist Church). Elizabeth grew in faith and served God in various ways. She was a teacher in Sunday School, VBS and Awana; participated in discipleship classes and prayer meetings; sewed for White Cross; cheerfully helped along with the Kitchen Committee; and was a faithful choir member. Elizabeth loved music and had a beautiful alto voice. She enjoyed singing hymns and worship songs and continued to sing daily, even in her last weeks of life. From 1972 to 1982, Elizabeth and Arthur also served with a non-profit missionary organization, mailing over 2,500 monthly magazines as well as Christian books and Bibles. Later in life, they became members of Hawkwood Baptist Church, as it was located closer to their home.

Elizabeth enjoyed a variety of activities and hobbies, including gardening, cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, tole painting, reading and doing word search puzzles. She also loved visiting extended family in Ontario, B.C., the U.S.A., and Europe. One of her most meaningful and life-changing experiences was a Holy Land Tour of Israel.

Elizabeth’s friendly, caring nature endeared her to family, friends and the many people whose lives she touched. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her family. Over the years, countless holidays and other special events were celebrated, including the weddings of both daughters in 1975, and the consequent births of her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 69 years, Arthur Klettke; her two daughters and sons-in-law, Edith (Sieg) Koslowski, Betty (Art) Klukas; her six grandsons and their spouses, Steven (Jodi) Klukas, Jason (Stacy) Klukas, Jordan (Lauren) Klukas, Michael (Alexandra) Koslowski, Mark (Laurel) Koslowski, Jonathan (Kelsey) Koslowski; and her twelve great-grandchildren, Aidan, Liam & Morgan Klukas; Micah, Olivia & Keira Klukas; Charlotte Klukas; Emery & Eleanor Koslowski; Ezra, Hudson & Larkin Koslowski. Elizabeth will also be dearly missed by her brother George (Ingrid) Maerz; her sister Erika (Howard) Maerz, as well as numerous other extended family members.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her father, George Maerz, in 1994; and her mother, Christine Maerz, in 2003.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4th Street, NW, Calgary, Alberta on Friday, August 19, 2022 at 10:00 am. A Private Family Graveside Service will be held prior to the Celebration of Life. For information regarding the live streaming please contact Foster’s Garden Chapel.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your kind expressions of sympathy during this time of bereavement. We would also like to express our sincere thanks to the staff of Bethany Cochrane for the kind, compassionate care they provided for Elizabeth.

In lieu of flowers, if family and friends so desire, donations (“in memory of Elizabeth Klettke”) may be made directly to Samaritan’s Purse (20 Hopewell Way NE, Calgary, AB T3J 5H5; 403-250-6565).