April 8, 2020 – West Bend, WI – The family of Eleanor Klemme surprised her Sunday with a social-distancing celebration for her birthday.
Eleanor would turn 89 years old on April 8. Kids, grandkids, great grandkids and family gathered outside Klemme’s apartment on University Drive in West Bend.
They came armed with poster-size handmade birthday cards and gifts including a 4-pack of toilet paper, some lottery scratch-off tickets and a couple cans of Bud Light.
My near and dear grandma is turning 89 next week (4/8). She lives on a first floor condo in West Bend with my aunt. They both love to play bingo and this time has been tough on both of them as they have been staying home (thank goodness) and not being able to enjoy what they love to do. It’s a tradition that my family members go play bingo on their birthday, and unfortunately my grandma won’t be able to do that this year. In turn we want to make her smile and feel loved and know we are all thinking of her. We plan on making signs and lining the sidewalk in front of her condo THIS SUNDAY APRIL 5TH AT 1PM. If you’d like to get out of the house and help celebrate my grandma’s 89th birthday with us your more than welcome. She has a big front yard and lots of sidewalk that we can maintain our 6-foot distance while holding our signs and maybe even sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Of course this will be a surprise to her…. so I’m sure I will be crying along with her during this special moment. Even though you don’t know my amazing grandma mother of 12 I thought you’d might want a reason to decorate a sign and get out of the house! Let me know if you’d like her address and I’ll send you a pm.
Klemme was born in Cooperstown, New York. She met her husband of 65 years in Iowa, and moved to the town of Wayne in 1956. There they had 12 children.
Klemme worked for years at Amity Leather in West Bend. She stitched wallets and handbags.
She now lives with her daughter Cindy at the Embassy condos.
