Debra Kay Klimach

Debra Kay (nee Dean) Klimach, age 68, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, surrounded by those she loved and devoted her life to most, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Deb was born on March 23, 1957, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Elmer and Vivian Dean. She moved to the Village of Paw Paw, Michigan at the age of 16, and resided there for 52 years. She graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1975 and worked at Paw Paw Shopping Center for almost 20 years.

Deb gave birth to her daughter, Shawna Gates, in February of 1976, and later met the love of her life, Jack Klimach, in 1980, whom she later married on September 30, 1990.

Deb dedicated her life to the people she loved, which included many friends and family members. She was a lover of crafts and could always be found with a camera in one hand and a glue stick for her scrapbooks in the other. Her house was always full of music, which consisted of everything from Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, to Garth Brooks, and there was rarely a moment around her that didn't consist of smiles or laughter.

Debra is preceded in death by her father, Elmer; her mother-in-law, Ethel; brother-in-law, Martin and sisters-in-law, Lorraine and Robin. Debra is survived by her mother, Vivian; her beloved husband, Jack; daughter, Shawna; son, Kevin; six grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron, Cayla, Alex (Macey), Liam and Makenzie; two great-grandchildren, Tatum and Caiden; two brothers, Don and David, and three sisters-in-law, Marie, Shirley, and Clara.