Carole Sue Dettman Kleinschmidt, 89, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Granbury, Texas, where she recently moved. She was born in Michigan City, Indiana on July 4, 1935, but eventually moved to El Paso, Texas, and graduated from Austin High School. Carole spent most of her life living in El Paso, Texas. 

 She was preceded in death by her parents, William (Bill) Henry and Dorothy Gaynelle Bunton Dettman, her husband of 65 years, Paul Edward Kleinschmidt, her brother Ronald (Ron) David Dettman and her brother Michael William Dettman. Also preceding her is her son Michael David Kleinschmidt and great grandson, Nathan Charles Beatty.

She is survived by her sister, Kay Ellen Dettman Neale (Robert, Bob), son William Kleinschmidt (Diane), daughters Sue Beatty (Charles) and Kelly Rose (Stephen), grandsons Clint (Tara), Mark (Sarah) and Travis (Morgan) Beatty, granddaughters Evann Laird (Xander) and Heather Gray (Kasey), great grandson, Colin Beatty, great granddaughter twins Amber and Madison Beatty. 

 Carole was employed by First State Bank for 30 years and was co-owner of a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise. Carole was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She was a great joke and storyteller, loved games shows, and was an avid coin collector. She was tough, opinionated and generous. Carole will be remembered every fourth of July, on her birthday, she loved fireworks and was quite the firecracker! She will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Out of sight, but never out of mind and forever in our hearts. The family would like to thank the staff at Harbor Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation and the staff at Three Oaks Hospice in Granbury, Texas, for their loving care during a difficult time.

A private celebration of life will be held by her family, and she will be buried next to her husband Paul at a private ceremony at Fort Bliss National Cemetery at dates yet to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Carole’s name be made to: The Cure Starts Now Foundation at this website, https://thecurestartsnow.org/ or The Cure Starts Now Foundation; 10280 Chester Road; Cincinnati, Ohio 45215. If you donate online, please dedicate the donation to honoree Carole Kleinschmidt in memorial to Warrior Nathan Beatty, Carole’s great grandson. The acknowledged should be Kelly Rose, karose609@gmail.com, 609 Stacy Court, Efland, North Carolina 27243.

A wish from Carole to be read at her passing:

When tomorrow starts without me,

And I’m not here to see,

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you would not cry

The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things,

We did not get to say.

I know how much you love me,

as much as I love you,

And each time that you think of me,

I know you will miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me,

Please try to understand,

I did not mean to leave you,

It wasn’t what I planned.

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don’t think we’re far apart,

For every time you think of me,

I’m right here in your heart.

A partial excerpt from the Poem “When Tomorrow Starts Without Me” by David Romano.

Arrangements under the care of Wiley Funeral Home.