Katherine Libert

Waukesha - Kathy Libert, 78, passed away peacefully at Angel’s Grace Hospice on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with her husband by her side. She was born on February 27, 1944, in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of Fredric and Marian (Krupa) Wildeman.

Kathy attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She met her husband, Jim, while both were at the University. They were married on June 3, 1967, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Madison. Following graduation from the university, Kathy and Jim moved to Milwaukee where she began her career as a nurse. Kathy worked in various fields of nursing for over 40 years, including Orthopedics, general surgery, and Drug and Alcohol treatment. She spent her final years as a skilled plasmapheresis nurse at St. Luke’s hospital in Milwaukee. Kathy was a beacon of kindness, always intent on helping family, neighbors, and friends in whatever way she could. She loved flowers and for many years kept a splendid flower, fruitand vegetable garden until shade from maturing trees took over the backyard. She will be remembered by all in her extended family as a great cook and keeper of many favorite family recipes including German Potato Salad, caramel pecan cinnamon rolls, and various pies with homemade crust. In retirement, she enjoyed volunteering especially at the free clinic in Waukesha. Kathy and Jim were active members of St. Anthony on the Lake Catholic Parish in Pewaukee for over 30 years where Kathy sang in the choir until six weeks before her death. She also conducted the parish blood pressure screening sessions and coordinated the parish blood donation drives and was involved in countless other parish activities. Kathy and Jim enjoyed hiking in the parks surrounding the greater Waukesha area and in the state parks throughout Wisconsin. They vacationed in Door County several times each year and made an annual hiking trip to Colorado in the summer.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jim; one son, Tom of, Virginia; two older brothers, Fredric (Sunny) Wildeman, Jr. of Neenah, WI, and Tom (Louise) Wildeman of Golden, CO; two sisters, Peggy Chrzan and Anne Harmel, both of Neenah, WI; and a sister-in-law, JoAnne Yazzie of Madison, WI. She is also survived by four nephews and three nieces and their families as well as many former colleagues and numerous longtime friends. The family would like to thank the parish community of St. Anthony on the Lake andtheir neighbors and other friends for their generous, kind support through visits and providing meals during Kathy’s brief illness. We are also grateful to the staff and caregivers at Angel’s Grace Hospice for their gentle care of Kathy during the final few days of her life and at the time of her death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony on the Lake Catholic Church in Pewaukee. Visitation with the family will be held at the church before the service starting at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, we suggest that memorial contributions in honor of Kathy be given to the Waukesha Free Clinic at Carroll University, where she volunteered for many years.