Yvette Harklau

Yvette Harklau (nee Shroeder) took the hand of her beloved son Rob and followed him home to Heaven on 1/24/2026 at the age of 88.

Yvette was born in Milwaukee, WI, attended the 37th St School, and graduated from Messmer High School with honors at the age of 17. She worked at various jobs before landing at The Maryland Casualty Insurance Company, where she eventually met her future husband, Bob, who worked in the same building (Loyalty Building) in downtown Milwaukee. Bob and Yvette raised four children, first in the northwest side of Milwaukee and then in Oconomowoc. Yvette was very active in the PTA in both communities and participated in many parent-student activities. In Oconomowoc she started her lifelong career in the medical field, first at the Memorial Hospital of Oconomowoc and then for Dr’s Iglar and Johnson and their private practice.

Yvette was a voracious reader, going through at least a couple of books a week. She was an expert seamstress and was well known for her talents in knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She was also a loyal Green Bay Packer fan, following The Pack through all of their ups and downs.

Yvette should be remembered for her strong fight against multiple illnesses- over whelming for most people, but not for Yvette with her fighting spirit. She had at least six major illnesses in the past few years that she managed to overcome with sheer determination, a real trouper as they say. The most recent illness was just too much for her to endure. She was simply wore out and wasn’t able to fight it.

Above all, Yvette was the ultimate family person. To her, family was everything. If there were such a thing as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother of the year she would deserve the prize in all categories every single year. She celebrated every success, comforted us through challenges, and cheered us all endlessly.

Yvette was predeceased by her son Rob, her parents Fred and Yvonne Schroeder, father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Anna Harklau, and a multitude of dogs and grand-dogs.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Bob, daughters Linda (Darold), Daun (Bob), and Krista (Al), grandchildren Robb (Mandy), Jennifer (Brett), Alissa (Eric), Danielle, Brant, Halle (Keith), and Ross, and by great-grandchildren Evan, Cruz, Ayla, Grayson, and Nicola, as well as six grand-dogs.

Yvette’s family wishes to thank the staff and volunteers at AngelsGrace Hospice for their compassionate care to all of us in Yvette’s final hours of life.

In lieu of flowers, Yvette’s family appreciates memorials to go to the Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS).

A celebration of life is planned for Friday, January 30th, at the Chapel at Glenview Memorial Gardens (W1219 Glenview Ave, Ixonia, WI 53036) with a service starting at 2:00pm and entombment to follow.