Kathleen (Kathy) Rabe of Kiel passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at the Homestead.

Kathy was born May 12, 1939 in Johnsburg to the late Anne (Steffes) and Hugo Koenigs, and grew up the second oldest of 14 in rural Marytown. She met her husband, Ronald (Ron) Rabe while dancing at the Hollywood Resort on Wolf Lake, and they were married on June 11, 1960. He made her laugh. The pair eventually settled down on the Rabe farmstead on Wilke Lake where they raised a family and were happily married for 55 years until Ron's death on April 28, 2015.

Kathy was MOTHER to Laurie (Roger) Peters of Cascade, Terry (Christine) Rabe of Kiel, Jeff Rabe of Middleton, Amy (Paul) Neyard of Oshkosh, Sara (Amy Elvekrog) Rabe of Stoughton, and the late Lisa Rabe. GRANDMOTHER to Jessica Montambo, Jamie Peters, Trista (Matthew) Osladil, Alexis (Zakary) Whyte, Lindsay Rabe, Benjamin (Rachel) Riesterer, Dakota (Erin) Rabe, Andrew (Hayley) Riesterer, Meredith Thiessen, Alexander Thiessen, Samuel Thiessen. GREAT GRANDMOTHER to Kolton, Barrett, Skylar, Lincoln Peters; Owen, Lauren Ritchie; Dylan, Isabelle Nienhaus, Isaac Osladil; Scarlett Whyte. HONORARY GRANDMOTHER to April, Reese, Lindsay, Kyle, Dustin, Katelyn, Madalyn, Skylyr. SISTER to many, and FRIEND to all. Kathy's Thanksgiving Table stretched far, and overflowed with festive food, and everyone's favorite pie.

A caring, nurturing person, Kathy was a dedicated CNA, serving on the staff, and volunteering, at the Homestead for over 40 years. Kathy and Ron were active members of St. Peter's UCC in Kiel, singing in the choir, and volunteering wherever needed. Known far and wide for her famous German potato salad, Kathy literally fed thousands of hungry souls. And a fervent seamstress, Kathy wrapped hundreds in her loving, quilted embrace.

Funeral Services for Kathy will be held at 11:00am on Friday September 20, 2024 at St. Peter United Church of Christ (424 Fremont St. Kiel) Burial will follow in the Schleswig Cemetery, Rockville. A time of visitation will be held on Thursday September 19, 2024 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at the Meiselwitz-Vollstedt-DeTroye Funeral Home (815 6th St. Kiel) Visitation will continue on Friday at the Church from 10:00am until 10:45 when we will have brief family rites prior to the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in her name for St. Peter UCC, in Kathy's words "To the Life of St Peter's UCC".

Kathy made so many wonderful quilts for people she cared about. To honor those gifts, please feel free to bring those quilts to church on Friday to be hung on the pews as a remembrance of her.

Kathy's family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Homestead and Sharon S. Richardson Hospice for caring for mom in her final days; to the Wilke Lake Neighborhood for your vigilant eye and ever extended helping hand; and to Pastor Nicole, the Choir, the Romeo Boys, and all the members of St. Peter's UCC for a community of support, hope, and faith all these years. Thank You.

Well done, good and faithful servant. ~Matthew 25:23