Georgette Bathum

Georgette Ann Bathum, age 91, of Madison, passed away on September 8, 2021, at home.  She was born on January 7, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of the late George J. Senitz and Frances LaBelle.  She met and married Harold William Bathum, a US Marine, on July 17, 1951. Georgette went to nursing school with her best friend from 5th grade, Norma Rentzch. This year, they celebrated their 70th year as Registered Nurse alumnae of Mt. Sinai School of Nursing in Chicago. They talked on the phone weekly.

She loved being in nature, gardening, camping and fishing with her family. With her husband and the family, she built a home in Apple Canyon Lake that was central to her outdoor life.  She was a passionate artist and painted the natural world-flowers, birds, trees, landscapes. She traveled all over the United States by RV with her husband. She lived the last 13 years of her life in Arboretum CoHousing as creating and sustaining community was so important to her. She loved to play games (especially Scrabble, cribbage and poker), she loved words and read constantly-fiction, non-fiction, poetry… sometimes several books a week.

She was a compassionate, feisty, spiritual, and loving presence in our world.

Georgette is survived by her children; Peggy (Gary) Kleinhans, Mary Elizabeth Bathum and Christopher (Michelle Ashlee) Bathum; grandchildren Rainer (Elizabeth Ploch) Bathum , Clare Bathum, Emily Bathum, and Sophia Bathum, and other relatives and many friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 2009, son Terry Bathum (Kathie) in 2012, and grandson Rasmus Bathum (Marissa) in 2018.

There will be a Celebration of Georgette’s Life on Sunday, September 26, please contact her daughters at either kleinhans@charter.net or maryelizabethbathum@gmail.com for further information.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434