Deborah Jean (Deb) Altschwager, aged 73, after a long battle with dementia and with her husband by her side, passed away Friday, October 25, 2024.
Deb was born May 30, 1951 in Columbus, WI to Kenneth and Gertrude Fritz and graduated Columbus High School in 1969. Before graduating, Deb met a fellow with a flashy and fast car, and she was inclined to introduce herself. Little did she know that the guy with the flashy and fast car, Joe Altschwager, Jr., would be her future husband and partner in life. Deb and Joe were married on Valentine’s Day 1970 and would spend the next 54 years together.
Deb and Joe filled those many years with Wisconsin Badger football games, both at home and on the road, and were active in the Big Red Club, helping to establish a chapter in Columbus, with Deb serving as Secretary. The two of them put on many thousands of miles on their Harley Davidson motorcycle. They darkened the door of many bars, saloons and breweries on those road trips and made friends with many of the people they met along the way. The two of them also enjoyed traveling together without the Harley. Alaska and Hawaii were two destinations that they enjoyed immensely.
Over the years, Deb held several jobs including working at Sharrow Drug Store, as an office manager for several different dentist offices and her last job managing the office at Sheet Metal Specialties in Fall River.
However, the real pride and joy of her life was her family. Deb and Joe raised two children, Sue and Bill, with Deb volunteering and serving as a Son Beam Leader at Zion Lutheran School. As “Gramma Deb” she doted over her grandchildren, all 13 of them. She succeeded in creating everlasting family memories for them, always remembering to celebrate every accomplishment, every birthday, and every holiday with gift baskets and packages. She truly enjoyed being the matriarch of the family she and Joe built and loved.
Deb is survived by her loving husband Joe, children Sue Pankow of Beaver Dam and Bill Altschwager (Barb) of Denmark, sister Cindy Green of Lavernia TX, and brothers Bill Fritz (Karen) of Columbus and Kevin Fritz (Sheri) of Columbus. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren Alec (Shayla) Pankow, Morgan Pankow, Connelly Pankow, Rachel Altschwager, Dominique (Cole) Kleiboer, Elexa Landvatter, Dieter Altschwager, Jordan Landvatter, Kylee Landvatter, Ashlyn Dykstra, Brock Dykstra, Connor Dykstra and Colton Dykstra, as well as three great grandchildren, Nora and Emilie Pankow and Aria Kleiboer. Deb also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and countless family friends.
Deb was preceded in death by her parents (Kenny and Gert), parents-in-law (Joe Sr. and Ruth) and brother-in-law (Larry Green).
A visitation will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Columbus on Monday, October 28, 2024 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and also on Tuesday, October 29th from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Rev. Benjamin Zuberbier will officiate. Interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Columbus.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church and School.