Kathleen Loos Bell

Kathleen (Kathy) Loos Bell died on January 13, 2011 from ovarian cancer. A committed advocate, cherished friend, devoted mother and adoring grandmother, Kathy was a dreamer whose life's work was to make the world around her as humane and peaceful as she imagined it could be. She was a beautifully complex person who will be long remembered for her indomitable will, sly wit and generous spirit.   Kathy was born on February 28, 1947 in Chicago, the second of seven children born to Lorraine (Horback) and Allen Loos. Her family moved to Milwaukee in 1959 and Kathy graduated from Dominican High School in 1965. She was married and had two daughters, Jessica and Sarah, who formed the very center of her universe.     As a single working mother, Kathy earned her college degree at UW-Milwaukee and then a Master's degree in Social Work at UW-Madison, later teaching in the schools of Social Work at both universities. Perpetually curious and a voracious reader, Kathy found delight in the last year taking university classes in her favorite subjects, History and Literature, and joyfully indulging her great passion for new works of fiction.   Kathy was quick to sacrifice whatever she had for anyone who needed it more. Prior to her retirement in 2007, she worked tirelessly for more than 20 years with many hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS, their partners and families at the UW Hospital & Clinics, first as a licensed clinical social worker and later as the HIV clinic manager. Though profoundly humble about her pioneering role in local HIV/AIDS care, she was a gifted social worker whose tenacious commitment to human rights and inherent respect for all people made her a treasured advocate, counselor and friend.   Kathy was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister, Linda Loos. She is survived by: her daughters, Jessica (Matt) Buss of Kansas City, Missouri, and Sarah (Jonas) Wahlstrom of Chicago, Illinois; her sister, Judi Loos of Madison; her brothers, Gary (Jorjan) Loos of Cedarburg, Tom (Joy) Loos of Cedarburg, Kevin Loos of Newport Beach, California, and Steve (Georgene) Loos of Zion, Illinois; four grandchildren, Jack and Luke Buss, and Hana and Ava Wahlstrom; and her steady companion cat, Maude.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 21, 2011 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 401 S. Owen Drive in Madison. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. until the start of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations be made in Kathy's memory to Domestic Abuse Intervention Services or the Dane County Humane Society.