Baxter Klitzke

On Thursday, July 14, 2016, our handsome Baxter went to sleep here on Earth with the moon and woke up Friday, July 15, 2016, in the warmth of Heaven's sun.

Baxter was born on July 3, 2006 and brought into the Klitzke fold at about five weeks old. He was immediately and completely a loved member of the family. He was a blessing in ways to numerous to count or write on paper. He knew when you needed him and was ever giving in that way, unless except you were trying to take his frisbee.

Brett and Baxter were immediately a bonded pair, he loved his dad and never liked when dad was doing something that he couldn't be part of. Baxter always wanted to be by his side. Baxter lived the first years of his life at home with Brett, Kirsten, Brenda and Kevin. He knew his first home and loved his whole family. In 2008 Brett and Baxter got a home of their own, and though Baxter now spent the nights at Brett's house Baxter still knew the Van Buren house. Though his dog house has been since retired, he still keeps a tie-out in residence and regularly visited and spent the night with Grammie and Papa. He still occasionally woke them up when the Sunday paper was delivered, while scaring the crap out of the paper delivery lady and always got a treat from the Schwanns man. In 2010 we welcomed Kirsten and Shane's son Keegan, and Baxter was so patient of welcoming the little one who started to draw more attention. In 2011, Lora and Brett started dating and Baxter gave us his consent by accepting Lora into his trust. Lora never felt more blest, and loved her little buddy so much. Later in 2011, Lora's brother Chris and his wife, Jackie, welcomed Gavin. Gavin always liked to come over and visit Baxter. On June 29, 2015, we adopted Baxter's little sister, Binne; Baxter and Binne had met earlier and ironically had very similar personalities. She will carry on his legacy here at home and has officially gone from Princess Binne to her new title Queen Binne. Kirsten and Shane welcomed baby boy Eli in early 2016 and Baxter again was patient to the shift of attention but was aware of Eli and let Binne take on his curious squawks and noises. 

Baxter loved to go on walks of any length, and in his earlier days ran with dad on a regular basis. He loved to play catch in the yard. He loved to bark at squirrels, chipmunks, dogs, and anyone who walked near the house (even if they were in the road). Baxter was the King of this house and protected it from anyone he wasn't sure was meant to be there. To those he knew and loved a jump and a kiss were always waiting for you at the door to welcome you in. He was forever at your heels in the kitchen, even if you were just doing the dishes. We will miss him in the kitchen begging for little scraps, which he would get occasionally. He loved to share edamame and carrots with mom! He knew what you were up to at nearly every moment. He hated fireworks and thunderstorms, and there were times we would come home to find him cowering in the basement to escape the noise. Eventually we had to stop him from going to his safe place in the basement and would find him, of all places, in the bathroom closet in a clothes bin. He always had the instinct to go where he felt safest and had the best intuition, but this was funny to us because he hated to get baths or go in the bathroom. When the weather was glorious he loved to be outside lounging in the shade covered grass or sitting on the front stoop watching over the neighborhood. When Lora moved in she brought a futon with her, and Baxter (along with Binne), was convinced that Lora brought that bed for his comfort. Baxter had a dog bed available to him in all the rooms of the house except for the kitchen and toys to numerous to even play with. His most loved toys were pull toys, or squeakers. You knew he loved a toy when he attempted to destroy it, and as a result there are two one-armed snowman squeakers in our house. Lora lovingly sewed them up so that he could still play with them, and he would often greet us at the door with one of them or a tennis ball. It just depended on his mood of the day.

He was loved, spoiled, and will be whole-heartedly missed. He was our baby, our confidant, our strength, and our teacher. We learned so much from you Little Buddy. 

Baxter was laid to rest here on Earth Friday, July 15, 2016. He leaves behind Brett & Lora, Brenda & Kevin, Kirsten & Shane (Keegan & Eli), Don & Colleen, Bill, Chris & Jackie (Gavin, fur cousins Maggie & Milo), and his sister Binne. He was greeted in Heaven by Fritzy, Jake, Taffy, and numerous other family members and friends that will watch over him until we meet again.

Every night we tuck in our dogs, they are our babies. Sleep tight, Little Buddy, snug as a bug in a rug, don't let the bed bugs bite.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

We will ever be thankful that God made the decision for us so that we didn't have to, and though our hearts are chipped, they will heal and we will always have the wonderful 10 years that he gave us with Baxter. We can't foresee the future, we can't change the past. But we can look forward, and remember the memories.

Ever a blessing Little Buddy. See you in the greenlands.