Johnnie Jeanette Klatt passed from this life on Dec. 1, 2024, at the age of 81, surrounded by many loved ones and family members.

Johnnie was born in Houston, on June 20, 1943, to the late Rollie Ahto Norris and Ida Maude Rhodes. She attended Kashmere Gardens schools. While at a birthday party for a mutual friend in Pleak, Texas, she met the love of her life, Melvin Klatt. They wrote love letters to each other for two years while Melvin served in the United States Air Force. Upon returning from the service, Melvin and Johnnie were married on Nov. 26, 1958, eager to start a family of their own.

During the years, Melvin and Johnnie were members of the Austin County Saddle Club enjoying square dances on horseback, in their own and other area arenas, and weekend trail rides, sometimes by moonlight. In 1992, Melvin and Johnnie joined the Po.L.K. of A. (Polka Lover’s Klub of America, Texas Chapter) where they spent countless hours dancing and socializing, making lifetime friends. In 1994, Melvin and Johnnie were crowned Po.L.K. of A. King and Queen. They were also members of the Hermann Sons Sealy Lodge and St. John’s Lutheran Church of Cat Spring.

Johnnie’s gift of service was hospitality. There were a lot of special people in her life, and she enjoyed cooking and baking for them. She loved providing cookies, cinnamon rolls, kolaches, and pigs-in-a-blanket, among other things, to her family and friends. She was the winner of the Kolache Klobase Festival in East Bernard for several years. There was never a family holiday that didn’t involve her baking at least five pies, always wanting to provide everyone’s favorites. Seeing other people happy always made her happy. She was a loving wife and mother, and a dedicated friend to many.

This love of cooking and providing for others was portrayed as well through her employment with Sealy schools as head cook/manager of the cafeteria. She dedicated 30 years to feeding the youth of Sealy, Texas. Alumni from Sealy High School still talk about her cinnamon rolls today and how delicious her food was.

Johnnie is preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Melvin Klatt, Sr., her parents, brother Rollie Eugene Norris, sister Nadia Norris Stanford, brother Grant Lee “Teddy” Norris, and brother James Vernon “Jimmy” Norris, and granddaughters Katie Fowler and Piper Klatt. She is survived by her son Melvin Klatt, Jr. and wife Jackie, daughter Deborah Hansen and husband Eric, son Greg Klatt and wife Lynn, daughter Cassandra Pospichal and husband Kurt, daughter Christel Karl and husband Donald, and son Ronnie Klatt and Cindy Klatt; along with grandchildren Jennie Smith and husband Colby, Madison Young and husband Matt, Christa Hansen and Benny Behnen, Casey Hrbacek and husband John, Clayton Hansen, Kaley Harrington and husband Colton, Ryan Sullivan, Charity Karl, Aaron Karl, Ryan Fowler, and Bella Klatt; great-grandchildren Caroline Smith, Everleigh Behnen, Ellie Behnen, Croix Behnen, Keaton Harrington, Kamdynn Harrington, Kohen Harrington, Braxton Fowler, Adeline Fowler, and Kinsley Bartholomew; sister-in-law Joanie Griffin and husband Johnny, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Johnnie was honored at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cat Spring on Thursday, Dec. 5 with visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services were also held at the church on Friday, Dec. 6 at 11 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., followed by graveside services in Wallis Hartsville Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers were Clayton Hansen, Aaron Karl, Ryan Sullivan, Matt Young, Colton Harrington, John Hrbacek, and Colby Smith. Honorary pallbearers were Johnny Griffin, Rudy Stuchly, Robert Arnold, Mark Brandt, John Griffin, Michael Griffin, Ryan Fowler, Keaton Harrington, Croix Behnen, and Kohen Harrington.

If desired, monetary donations can be made in Johnnie’s memory to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Cat Spring.