Donnie Jo Kloetzke

Donnie Jo Kloetzke, 71, left us on May 15, 2023 for his next adventure joining his wife, Kathy.

Born in Oshkosh, WI on July 29, 1951, to the late Art & Delores Kloetzke. Traveling with his Military family, Donnie grew up across the US in Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, California and then Germany. A class of ’69 graduate from Goodrich High School, Donnie went on to marry classmate Kathleen L. Rentmeister on May 31, 1974.

Donnie’s talents were noted early on with his unique artistic and musical abilities. He was selected Wisconsin Sportsman Magazine’s first Wildlife Artist of the Year, was a Sponsor Artist for the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Century Artist of the Year for PBS, Sponsor Artist for Wings over Wisconsin. His well know “Midnight at Holy Hill” and “A New Beginning” paintings were on the U.S. Art’s Best Seller list. Donnie was ranked in the top 25 bestselling artists in America by U.S. Art Magazine for three consecutive years as well as “Best of Show” at the National Art Exhibition of Alaska Wildlife, St. Paul Winter and Wildlife Art Exhibit, National Wildlife & Western Art Exhibition in both Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Later in Donnie’s art career he painted pictures of World War II aircraft and captured all of the Green Bay Packers “Diehards” fans across the nation.

In addition to art, music was Donnie’s passion. He excelled on the piano, guitar, drums, vocals and any other item he could turn into a musical instrument. In the early 70’s Donnie partnered with his best friend Mario Friedel forming the duo Don & Mario. Chasing his music dreams to Nashville along with his friends and band mates Mario Friedel, Paul Tabet and Lanny & Rick Fiel they were signed with Universal City Records in 1974 and produced two albums under the name White Duck with White Duck & In Season. Although Donnie’s “professional” music career ended with White Duck he continued to provide vocals in albums for Jimmy Buffett such as “High Cumberland Jubilee”. After Nashville, Donnie returned to Fond du Lac starting the duo Don & Gerry, better known as Showboat and Thunderbird from 1975-1985 with Gerry Cain. In between gigs Donnie could be found in several other bands such as Sammy, The Swine Chorus, Raisncain and Billy Shears. With albums Living In the Rain and Diehards, The Green Bay Packers anthem album to follow.

Loved ones left to bask in his talents are his two children, Savannah (Chad) Brotherton of Fond du Lac and Travis (Sarah) Kloetzke of Lamartine; four grandchildren, Wyatt, Abigail, Evelyn, and Isla Jo; two sisters, Annie (Jerry) Resop and Yvonne (Paul) Koll; one uncle, Lance (Ollie) Wilde; sisters-in-law, Debbie Hutter, Pam (Mike) Bork, Sandy Pierce, and Melody Rentmeister; brother-in-law, Terry (Judy) Rentmeister; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Those that have left us before Donnie were his wife of 40 years, Kathy; his parents, Art & Delores (Roshinko) Kloetzke; nephew, Chad Groff; brothers-in-law, Kenny and Jeff Rentmeister, sister-in-law, Mary Rentmeister; maternal and paternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles.

We will be having a “Donnie” (music, food, drinks) style celebration of his life on Saturday, July 22, 2023 from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Fond du Lac Eagle’s Club Aerie #270, 515 N. Park Avenue in Fond du Lac.

We would like to thank Eden Vista for taking such great care of Donnie for the past 8 years, we could not have done it without all of you and also a big thank you to the Hospice Home of Hope for the excellent care not only to Donnie, but to Savannah & Travis for taking the time to always ask how they were doing, if we needed anything and keeping room 1011 the most serene room for this difficult time.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com