Leila Jane Beltz

Leila Jane Beltz, 96, passed away at The View in Johnson Creek on May 19, 2024.

Lee was born November 27, 1927, in Gillett, Wisconsin, the daughter of Arthur and Martha (Johnson) Arneson. She was a graduate of Gillett High School. Lee married Bertram Beltz on August 5, 1947. Bert and Lee moved to Watertown in 1947 where he worked, and later bought Ray's Shoes. Lee worked with him in the retail business, performing sales, bookkeeping, and administrative functions. She also traveled with her husband to other shoe stores that they purchased. Lee was active along with her husband in activities promoting downtown Watertown, the home of their flagship store.

In addition to raising their own five children, Lee and Bert served as host parents for two American Field Service students who attended Watertown High School, Ermyas Admassu from Ethiopia in 1966-67 and Carole Leaver from Australia in 1971-72. Lee was an avid bowler in her early years and also enjoyed golf. She and Bert were long time members of the Watertown Country Club and Beach View Country Club on Sanibel Island, Florida.

In the later years of their lives, Lee and Bert split their time between homes on Rock Lake in Lake Mills and on Sanibel. They celebrated 53 years of marriage in 2000. A few years after Bert's death in 2001 she sold her home on Sanibel and lived in Lake Mills until moving to The View. 

Lee was our cherished and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed entertaining and spoiling her family both in Lake Mills and Sanibel and fostered a deep sense of family among us. She enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening and bird watching.  A large family gathering of almost all her family was held on Rock Lake just last August.

Survivors include her children, Christine (John) Maas of Watertown, Dr. Gerald (Dr. Barbara) Beltz of Lexington, Massachusetts, Kathryn (Gerald) Reason of Excelsior, Minnesota, Dr. John (Dr. Sue Dannis) Beltz of Aztalan, Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren, Leslie (Rafael) Cortes, Jason (Amy) Maas, Johnny (Carolina) Maas, Dr. Christopher (Amy) Beltz, Dr. Eleanor Beltz, Martha (Edwin R.) Shanfeld, Elizabeth (Steve) Smith, Rebecca (Derick) Primus, Anne (Kory) Koehnen, Alexander Beltz, Abigail Beltz, Isabella Beltz, and Gabriel Beltz; 18 great grandchildren, Sofia and Natalia Cortes, Jackson, Jonah, and Jacob Maas, Arlo and Alma Maas, Wright and Leila Beltz, Julian Shanfeld, Grace, Milo and Oliver Smith, Jillian, Reid, and Cole Primus, Violet and George Koehnen; sister, Laura Hosfield, daughter-in-law Kristin Beltz, sister-in-law, Elaine Arneson, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Bert, her parents, two brothers, James and John, son Daniel, and twin grandsons, Matthew and Andrew Beltz.

Funeral Services will be held at the Pederson Nowatka Funeral Home at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, with Rev. Ray Bezanson presiding. Friends and relatives may pay their respects at the Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home from 9:30 am until the time of service.

Memorials may be given to Common Heart Hospice or the American Field Service Global Impact Fund at AFS.org.