Bernadette Overkamp

Bernadette Mary Overkamp (née Klott), beloved mother and grandmother, passed away surrounded by her family on April 24, 2025.

She was born to William and Colette (Schneider) Klott in the First Creek Community near

Hermann, Missouri on June 18, 1937.  Bernadette was the youngest of seven children and grew up on the family farm.  She graduated high school from St. George Catholic School in 1954, where she was valedictorian and class president. In high school, she met Norbert Overkamp, whom she married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Little Berger, Missouri on August 25, 1956.  They moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1958, where they began their family.

Bernadette was a stay-at-home Mom until 1979 when she went to work at Waukesha Memorial Hospital as a receptionist/switchboard operator, retiring in 2004.  She was curious and active, taking classes at WCTI, exercising, and visiting with friends. Bernadette and Norbert traveled extensively throughout the United States, visiting all but five states.

Bernadette enjoyed piecing together her family’s genealogy and watching sports (especially the Brewers and Packers).  She was an avid reader and an expert crocheter, creating prayer shawls for donation and Afghans for her friends and family.  She was a great cook (though she would dispute that), known by her family for her holiday spreads and a large cookie array at Christmas. Most of all, though, she loved spending time in her yard, tending to her numerous and impressive flower beds, nurtured over several decades.

A devout Catholic, Bernadette was a member of St. John Neumann, where she was a very active member of the garden ministry until bad health forced her to quit. She also helped organize the prayer chain at St. John’s around 1990 and was a faithful participant in the Rosary family.

She is predeceased by her husband Norbert, her parents Colette and William Klott, brothers James, Anthony, Maurice and Leo Klott, and sisters Eleanor Heberle and Joan Eckerle. She is survived by her children Debbie Neuman, Karen Overkamp (Scott Rosenbloom), Larry Overkamp (Linda), Gregory Overkamp (Akane), Amy Dunaway (Tim) and Matthew Overkamp, and grandchildren Dr. Nichole Neuman (Matthew De Gennaro) and Michael Neuman, Jenna and Rachel Rosenbloom, Noel, Emily and Kelsey Overkamp, Karina and Alto Overkamp, Ben and Allison Dunaway and Brianna Weaver (Aaron) and Ellie Overkamp. 

Donations in Bernadette’s memory can be made to St. John Neumann Garden Ministry (Waukesha, WI) or the Waukesha Catholic School System.

Bernadette was smart, generous, and curious and had an incredible sense of humor.  She will be so missed. Long may her memory and kindness live on with those who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home (237 N. Moreland Blvd, Waukesha, WI 53188).  Services will be streamed live as well as posted for play back under this link.

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/f25054484959399 

Please note that there will not be a visitation prior to the service