Kathleen M. Willems

Kathleen M. Willems, age 88, a lifelong resident of Kenosha, passed away on Saturday March 11, 2017 at Hospice Alliance/Hospice House.

Born on October 28, 1928, Kathleen was the daughter of the late Reuben and Leona (Joerndt) Vick.  She attended St. George Grade School, Washington Junior High and was a graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School.

On April 21, 1951 at St. George Catholic Church, she was married to Robert O. Willems.  They were blessed with five children, Kristine (Richard) Stibb, Janet (John) Bonaretti, Patrick (Judy) Willems, Paul (Laurie) Willems and Ann (Jeff) Marcinkus.

Besides being a wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker, Kathleen worked at Lockwood Oil, J.C. Penney, and as an educational assistant with the Kenosha Unified School District.

Since 1981, Kathleen has been a faithful member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.  She was a member of the Holy Rosary Altar Society and the Catholic Women’s League.

Kathleen loved band music and met her husband, Bob, when they were in the C.Y.O. Band.  They both loved dancing to big band music.  In her later years, she enjoyed her flower gardens and feeding the many birds that came to visit her gardens.

In addition to her five children, Kathleen is survived by fourteen grandchildren, Christopher, Stacy, and Garrett Stibb; Nick, Natalie, Ben, Dominic, and Dante Bonaretti; Jacob, Andy, Anthony and Joshua Willems; and Jessica and Jenna Marcinkus; and her three great grandchildren, River, Zoe, and Veda Melcher.

She is further survived by her four sisters, Shirley (Ray) Gengembre, Audrey (Don) Martell, Mary Elizabeth, “Maybeth” (Archie) Foreman, and Maureen Madison.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Willems; her son-in-law, Jeff Marcinkus; and her grandson, Christian Willems.

Kathleen’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staffs at United Hospital System-Kenosha Hospital Campus and Hospice Alliance, Inc. for all the compassionate care they graciously provided.