Lloyd Houtakker
August 01, 1935 - May 08, 2016
Obituary
Lloyd B. Houtakker, 80, of Cuba City, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Sunday May 8, 2016. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 13, 2016 at St. Philomena Catholic Church, Belmont, WI. Father Jim Leeser will officiate. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery, Elk Grove Twp. Friends may call from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, where there will be a rosary at 2:45 p.m., friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Lloyd B. Houtakker Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
Lloyd was a lifelong resident of Elk Grove Township, where he was born on August 1, 1935 to Vincent and Dolores (Folmer) Houtakker. He attended Vickers Rural School and graduated from Belmont High School in 1953. Lloyd was united in marriage to Reta Ruskell on September 12, 1956 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Elk Grove. They operated a dairy and beef farm until their retirement.
His greatest love was his family and he enjoyed following them in whatever they did. He also enjoyed riding in the “Old” red truck down the country roads. Sports were one of his favorite pastimes; the Belmont Braves, Badgers, Packers, and the White Sox. Anyone who asked Lloyd how he was, the answer was always “wonderful.” Christmas was very special, as the family knew only red goes on top of the Christmas tree.
He is survived by his wife, Reta; two daughters, Cheryl (Ron) Kowalski of Cuba City, WI; Denise (Mike) McDonald of Belmont; one son, Steve Houtakker of Belmont; seven grandchildren, Andy Kowalski, Robyn (Josh “Tug”) Hartwig, Jody (Johnie) Ambrosy, Holly (Josh) Hebgen, Pam (Rick) Johnstone, Scott (fiancé, Ashley Riley) McDonald, and Jeff McDonald; eight great-grandchildren, Payton and Owen Hartwig, Finley Ambrosy, Harper and Hudson Hebgen, Phillip, Violet, and Walter Johnstone; three sisters, Lois (Ed) Heiring, Jeanette Bockhop, both of Belmont; and Joyce (Jim) Kliebenstein of Ames, Iowa; two brothers-in-law, Jack (Laura) May of Roseville, CA; Mark Lowry of Madison; and mother-in-law, Marie Ruskell of Belmont. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Charlotte and Ann Houtakker, Elaine May, and Elizabeth “Betty” Lowry; and father-in-law, Everett Ruskell. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Michelle Hauser, the staff at Southwest Health Center, as well as, Upland Hills Hospice.