Paula R. Sprotte, age 75, of Beaver Dam, died peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024 at Clearview Nursing Home in Juneau, WI. The memorial gathering will be at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The memorial service will follow at the funeral home onContinue Reading
Paula R. Sprotte, age 75, of Beaver Dam, died peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024 at Clearview Nursing Home in Juneau, WI.
The memorial gathering will be at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The memorial service will follow at the funeral home on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Chris Davis officiating. Inurnment will be at Oakwood Cemetery.
Paula Rae was born on June 13, 1949 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to Merlin and Norma (nee Earle) Sprotte. Prior to attending Wayland Academy, she received the Monarch Scholarship. Upon graduation from Wayland Academy in 1967, Paula went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Spanish Literature at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. Paula married Paul Robert Hodierne on August 30, 1972 in Minneapolis, MN. Paula began her career learning the culinary profession in Stillwater, MN. In the next step of her professional career, Paula served as the first female executive at the historic Tabard Inn in Washington, DC. During her career Paula served as Executive Chef/Chef/Owner at numerous hospitality venues and restaurants throughout the United States. Eventually, Paula came back to Beaver Dam to be closer to her family and enjoyed making memories with her siblings and their families.
Paula enjoyed her travels to Mexico, loved music, reading, and socializing with friends at the Jersey Shore. Over time Paula amassed a collection of cook books to compliment her career as a chef.
Paula will be missed by her siblings, Laurel Rittenhouse of Beaver Dam, Joanne Sprotte Webber (Paul Hartzheim) of Beaver Dam, and her step-siblings Linda (Larry) Verlinden of Manitowoc, Clarence Rupnow of Beaver Dam, Nancy (Rod Kreimeyer) Wollenburg of St. Petersburg, FL, and Mary Wollenburg of Fox Lake; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-parents, Cora (nee Voss) and George Wollenburg; and brother-in-law, Leland Rittenhouse.
A very special thanks to the staff at Clearview Nursing Home in Juneau, WI for the great care and treatment they provided to Paula during her struggles with Huntington’s Disease.
Susan J. Machkovitz
left a message on April 26, 2025:
For Paula
I met Paula many years ago when we were young girls working at a summer job. She was still attending Wayland and I had just completed my first year of college. I had such a good experience in my meeting with Paula that summer, that I never forgot her and thought about her all these years. I had hoped life had been good to her. She was an amazing young lady. One day, a third girl that we were working with forgot her lunch. Somedays we brought a lunch, others we stepped to a small restaurant nearby for a bite together. On this day, she immediately responded to this girl that she should come her with her for lunch. I was also asked to come along and after a quick call to her stepmom, we set off for Paula’s house. Her stepmom was so gracious to us. And Paula had shared with us how much she loved and appreciated her. As it were, Paula had first lost her mother, after which her father was remarried to this lady. Then, another loss, and her father also passed away. So this young girl had lost both of her biological parents before she graduated from Wayland Academy. Paula was so appreciative of her stepmom keeping the family together and she spoke lovingly or her and her siblings and step siblings. All these years, I wondered about Paula. I went on to become a an elementary school teacher, then went back to school again at college and university, and then again, and eventually switched careers and became a licensed clinical psychologist. Years passed but Paula would come up in memory and I would ask friends who had also attended Wayland if they knew Paula and what had happened to her. Then, this December I saw her obituary. Oh, if I had only known, I would have gone to Clearview to visit with her. She was a truly amazing young lady, and although our time together was just one summer long, I feel blessed to have known her. I wish I could be there to day to meet and share these sentiments in person with her loved one. Bless you, Paula. I know your lovely spirit is flying high and free now. And my sincere sympathies to her loved ones remaining here.
Lisa Schweiger
left a message on April 23, 2025:
What a beautiful life Paula lived. I met Paula at Clearview as her hairdresser. She was a pleasure to provide her hair needs. May she rest in peace.
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Susan J. Machkovitz
left a message on April 26, 2025:
For Paula
I met Paula many years ago when we were young girls working at a summer job. She was still attending Wayland and I had just completed my first year of college. I had such a good experience in my meeting with Paula that summer, that I never forgot her and thought about her all these years. I had hoped life had been good to her. She was an amazing young lady. One day, a third girl that we were working with forgot her lunch. Somedays we brought a lunch, others we stepped to a small restaurant nearby for a bite together. On this day, she immediately responded to this girl that she should come her with her for lunch. I was also asked to come along and after a quick call to her stepmom, we set off for Paula’s house. Her stepmom was so gracious to us. And Paula had shared with us how much she loved and appreciated her. As it were, Paula had first lost her mother, after which her father was remarried to this lady. Then, another loss, and her father also passed away. So this young girl had lost both of her biological parents before she graduated from Wayland Academy. Paula was so appreciative of her stepmom keeping the family together and she spoke lovingly or her and her siblings and step siblings. All these years, I wondered about Paula. I went on to become a an elementary school teacher, then went back to school again at college and university, and then again, and eventually switched careers and became a licensed clinical psychologist. Years passed but Paula would come up in memory and I would ask friends who had also attended Wayland if they knew Paula and what had happened to her. Then, this December I saw her obituary. Oh, if I had only known, I would have gone to Clearview to visit with her. She was a truly amazing young lady, and although our time together was just one summer long, I feel blessed to have known her. I wish I could be there to day to meet and share these sentiments in person with her loved one. Bless you, Paula. I know your lovely spirit is flying high and free now. And my sincere sympathies to her loved ones remaining here.
Lisa Schweiger
left a message on April 23, 2025:
What a beautiful life Paula lived. I met Paula at Clearview as her hairdresser. She was a pleasure to provide her hair needs. May she rest in peace.
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