RACINE – Mrs. Charlene A. Foertsch, 78, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

A lifelong resident of Racine, Char was born on July 25, 1947, the daughter of the late James and Emma (nee Gerber) Baird. She graduated from Racine Lutheran High School in 1965.

Char married the love of her life, Curtis A. Foertsch, on March 21, 1970. They were married for 40 years before Curt preceded her in death on February 16, 2011. Together they owned and operated Curt and Char's Stop on Inn on Douglas Avenue, where she always enjoyed organizing events at the bar to include Packer games, golf outings, and their annual Tiddley Wink Tournament, a big hit with their regular customers. Char looked forward to trips to the casino; she enjoyed bingo with her daughters and playing on her favorite slot machines.

She had a strong Christian faith and a love for animals, especially her cats. However, Char was happiest in the company of her family.

In addition to her parents and husband, Char was preceded in death by her brother, James Baird and her twin sister, Charlotte Romano; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Hanson, Donna Van Kampen; brother-in-law, Jim Foertsch.

She is survived by her daughters, Claudia Mendoza and Renee Itzenhuiser; her grandchildren, Kelsey (fiancé, Nathan Caputa) Foertsch, Madison (fiancé, Billy Holz) Mendoza, Nicholas Mendoza, Natalie, Abigail, and Adriane (fiancé, Tanner Issacson) Itzenhuiser; sister-in-law, Kathy Foertsch; brothers-in-law, Dr. James Hanson and Nick Romano; nieces, Wendy Lyman, Anne Van Kampen, Joanne (Mark) Unger, Janice Peterson, Libby (Oyvind) Wistrom, and Katie (Jay) Slipper.

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Monday, OCTOBER 27, 2025 , for a visitation from 3:30 – 5:00 pm. A service honoring and celebrating her life will follow at 5:00 pm. Memorials have been suggested to the Wisconsin Humane Society Racine Campus (8900 16th St, Mt Pleasant, WI 53177).

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