Erika Ann Marie May, 83, of Sturgeon Bay, was called home to the “garden in the sky” on September 21, 2026, at Door County Medical Center.
She was born on November 9, 1942, in Chicago, the daughter of Richard and Helene (Kekstadt) Fleig. Erika was raised in Ashland and attended Northland College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. Her first teaching position was at Sevastopol High School.
In September of 1965, she married Karl May. Together they raised five children. After raising her family, Erika went back to teaching at Southern Door High School where she taught and served as the chair of the English Department until her retirement. While teaching at Southern Door, she also earned her master’s degree in leadership from Silver Lake College.
Erika was a very active member of the community, serving in numerous leadership positions in various organizations throughout the years. She was very involved with CESA 7, the Home and Garden Club, served on the Sturgeon Bay School Board and as an officer for the Women’s Bowling League. She was also the secretary of the Doorfins Swim Club and a den mother for the local cub scouts. She was passionate about her faith and was an active member of the church where she sang in the choir, served as a lector and Eucharist Minister. Erica and Karl were also active in the Rotary Student Exchange Program and hosted 17 foreign students in their home.
Erika enjoyed golfing, gardening and landscaping, bowling, shopping the clearance racks at high-end stores, spending time in Florida during the winter, sewing, knitting, rosemaling, biking, skiing and “suffered through” boating with Karl. She loved celebrating Christmas, filling her house with all her decorations and filling the air with her favorite Christmas Carols. Erika was also an avid sports fan and loved cheering on the Badgers, Packers and Marquette Warriors. Most of all, she enjoyed time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and took great pride in the influence she had on their lives and in their education. Erika loved to travel with her grandchildren and enjoyed a trip to Europe with her granddaughter Sophie.
Erika is survived by her daughter Tia May and her friend Scott Bellisle, son Erik (Shawn) May; grandchildren, Drew Kramer (Sarah Trancik), Derek Kramer, Sophia May, and Brody May; great-grandchildren, Iris Kramer, Jordan Kramer, Hailey Kramer and “One-on-the-way”; 2 sisters, Barbara Heiskala and Irene (Bob) Beyer; nieces and nephews; her good buddy Candy Colombo; her dear friend since kindergarten Rita Sharp and special friend Hjalmer “Jerry” Mayala. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 2 sons, David and Patrick; 2 brothers, Jim (Marlene) Fleig and Tom Fleig.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Forbes Funeral Home from 4:00 PM until 6:30 PM. A prayer service will be held at 6:30 PM to conclude the evening. Visitation will continue on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, in Institute from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass at 11:00 AM. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Douglas Leonhardt. Inurnment will take place at Bayside Cemetery.
