Katherine Goetz

Katherine Goetz, our beloved Mom, Sister, Aunt and Friend passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 28th, 2024 at the age 82. 

Katherine was born February 27th, 1942 to Elizabeth (Betty) and Edward Rickert at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, WI.  Katherine grew up on the family farm with her four siblings Mary Ann, Joyce, Mike and Jerry.  She enjoyed spending her time outdoors fostering her love for the beauty of nature, gardening and of course getting her hands dirty with yardwork. 

Kathy graduated from St. John High School in Little Chute.  Early on she worked for the Institute of Paper Chemistry and the Appleton Police department.  Kathy married and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin where her son Stephen was born and then to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where her son Jason was born and finally settling in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to continue raising her boys whom she loved profoundly.  Kathy was devoted to raising her boys as a full-time mother, a role she would continue to embrace and fulfill throughout her entire life.  Kathy delighted in beauty and creativity.  She had an eye for natural beauty, not remotely due to the “current trends”.  Mom found something beautiful because of, as she would say, “how it makes me feel”.  Kathy wasn’t fond of card games but would humor her sons.  If you were to bring out a ‘word’ game she was ‘in’.  She reveled in freedom and excitement, with the top down traveling with her sisters on a road trip to visit her two sons and to experience the natural beauty of the desert.  They shared laughs, tears, and stories along the way and managed to stay out of trouble. 

A new beginning found Kathy moving from rural Sun Prairie to the city of Sun Prairie and accepting a full-time position with the Madison Metropolitan School District while raising her boys and bestowing them with her integrity and creativity.  Kathy had a passion for reading and watching a good movie, which made her a go-to source for a quality book or movie recommendation.  As an extremely skilled, self-taught seamstress Kathy would delight in making, fixing or modifying clothing to make it “just right”.  She was a master of needlepoint, practiced in the art of patience and keenly attentive to the details of life within and beyond the canvas.  Kathy would come to life beautifying a landscape and enduring the dirty work to “dress the house”.  

Mom had limitless empathy and compassion for those around her as well as those less fortunate in life.  Mom always provided a listening ear, withholding judgement and offering kind words that always came across as a hug to those in need.  Kathy’s creative outlet shifted as the years passed to the delicate precision of creating greeting cards.  She deeply enjoyed the work that involved a personalized expression of the love she held for her family and friends.  “Each card was a gift”, she would say. 

Kathy moved back to Little Chute to live her remaining years near her family and make new friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents Elizabeth and Edward, sister Mary Ann and brother Mike.  Kathy is survived by her two sons Stephen and Jason, sister Joyce and brother Jerry.  Kathy’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of those she has connected with but her spirit will continue to inspire and guide us.  Her ability to make everyone feel cherished will be sorely missed but never forgotten.  Kathy will forever be a beacon of kindness and love; the light she brought to this world is her legacy.  We love you Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend.

A celebration of life gathering will be held Friday, May 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 101 Canal St. Little Chute, WI 54140.  In lieu of flowers, per Kathy’s wish, please make a donation to the Salvation Army, 130 East North St, Appleton 54911.