Kathleen Ann Zwank

Kathleen Ann (Rezachek) Zwank, born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2025`.

Kathy’s life was defined by her love for family, friends, and fun. Above all, she was a devoted mother to three energetic boys, pouring her heart into raising them while working overnight shifts as a respiratory therapist and later in home healthcare. She was also an unwavering wife to her husband Doug for 55 years before he recently died. Her grandchildren were central to her and she was an energetic and fun grandma and caring nana. She cherished her parents, Gloria and Wilbert, and spent a lot of time caring for them in their later years.

Kathy loved her friends, and she would want all of them named here. She enjoyed gathering with them over wine, beer, or margaritas, and her nickname, "Sparky," reflected her vibrant spirit and energy. This enthusiasm persisted even through her struggles with dementia which slowly took away her ability to speak. She would do her best to chit-chat with friends and family and was quick to say hello to any stranger passing by.

An athlete at heart, Kathy enjoyed tennis, golf, and bowling, once achieving a perfect 300. Tennis became her life passion, starting when she and Doug moved their young family to Georgia where she played regularly and even joined the local community college women’s tennis team. She continued playing year-round upon moving back to Wisconsin and later in Fort Myers, Florida, where she and Doug spent their winters during retirement. Another passion of hers was her lifelong collecting of Christmas ornaments. Kathy loved decorating, especially for the holidays, and often created her own decorations and dried flower arrangements.

She is preceded in death by many people she loved including her husband Doug, parents Gloria and Wilbert (‘Whimpy’), and other family members and friends. She is survived by others she loved including her sons Mike, Pat and Ben; grandchildren Finn, Bodie, Joey and Sami; daughters-in-law Nienke, Taija and Maddi; brothers Steve (Betsy) Rezachek and Brian (Faye) Rezachek; sister-in-law Karen (Chris) Wagner and so many other family members, friends, and neighbors.

Kathy was a faithful Catholic who always saw the good in everyone and everything and she would want us to keep trying to do the same. A celebration of Kathy and Doug’s lives will be held later this summer when all of their snowbird friends have returned to Wisconsin. In place of flowers or memorials, please support a local artist whenever you get a chance.

Please share your memories of Kathy here on her Tribute Page.

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