Betty Jane Wotruba

Betty Jane Wotruba, age 91, Cooperstown, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at the Scandinavian Court Assisted Living in Denmark. Betty was born on July 27, 1929 in the Town of Gibson, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Louis and Tillie (Salta) Rezek. As a child Betty walked 1.8 miles from the family farm near Harpt’s Lake to Mapleview Grade School on Zander Road in a one room classroom through grade eight. On June 17, 1950 she married Martin Wotruba at St. James Church in Cooperstown. He preceded her in death on February 20, 2013. Betty was a member of St. James Church for 70 years.
Betty enjoyed bowling, gardening, cooking and baking, shopping, saying the Rosary, watching the Green Bay Packers and even the Chicago Bears, Polka-Polka-Polka on Sunday mornings, talking and singing a Little Bohemian. She hosted Christmas for the entire family in the same house for over sixty straight years, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors include four children: Jeff (special friend Mary Bushae) Wotruba, Manitowoc; Penny (Jim) Schuh, Mishicot; Bonnie (Rich) Rosek, Denmark; Tammy (Mark) Brantmeier, Denmark; ten grandchildren: Tyson (special friend-Tammy Herzfeldt) Wotruba, Matt Wotruba, Rob (Jamie) Rosek, Bridget (Doug) Vogel, Joe (Julie) Rosek, Adam (special friend-Angie Lom) Rosek, Kim (Eric) Capelle, Molly (special friend- Trevor Genz) Rosek, Riley and Leah Brantmeier; 13 great grandchildren: Katlyn, August, Breckin and Griffin Wotruba, Faith and Paige Vogel, Hank and Cash Capelle, Aiden, Grayson, Jackson, Wyatt and Whitney Rosek; two step great grandchildren: Catie and Tessa Dewane. She is further survived by sisters in law: Anna Rose (Wotruba) Shimon, Mary (Wotruba) Ropson, and Carol (Wotruba) Milke as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was preceded in death by a son, Joey; maternal grandparents, Frank (Catherine Cigler) Salta; paternal grandparents, Anton (Julia Andrel) Rezek; father in law and mother in law, Joseph (Margaret Reedy) Wotruba; brother, Harvey Rezek, brothers in law; Donald Shimon and Ira Ropson; brothers and sisters in law; Victor (Verna Micolichek) Rezek, Roy (Lucille Witak) Rezek, sisters and brothers in law; Charlotte (Russell Kittell Sr.) Irene (Emil Kunstmann), brothers in law and sisters in law; Lawrence (Arlene Hynek) Wotruba, James (Beverly Jarosh) Wotruba as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private family Mass will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at St. James Catholic Church Cooperstown, a livestream of the service will be available at St. James Catholic Church Cooperstown Facebook page beginning at 11:00am.
The family would like to thank Unity Hospice and the entire staff at both Scandinavian Court Assisted Living and Bellin Health Denmark for their kindness and compassion shown to Betty as well as neighbors Jim and Joanne Zipperer and Russell Kittell Jr.