Kathryn K. Taplick

Middleton-Kathryn Kaeser Taplick, age 96, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2009 at Attic Angel Place in Middleton, Wisconsin.     The daughter of Emil and Anna Kaeser, Kathryn was born in 1912 in New Glarus, Wisconsin, and was extremely proud of her Swiss heritage.  She graduated from New Glarus High School in 1930.  She attended the University of Wisconsin and joined Alpha Xi Delta.  She was selected a Badger Beauty finalist by actor Fredric March.  She went to New York and graduated from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School.  She then returned to Madison where she worked for the law firm of Ela, Christiansen, and Ela.

 

Kathryn met her future husband, Robert, when they were vacationing in neighboring cottages on Lake Mendota.  They were married in 1937 and celebrated 61 anniversaries until her husband's death in 1998.

 

Robert and Kathryn enjoyed their membership at Blackhawk Country Club, and she was proud to have one of the longest tenures of any member with 57 years of continuous membership.

 

Kathryn was known for her extraordinary knitting skills and the quantity and variety of her creations.  She was never without needles and yarn.   In addition to the countless intricate garments she created for her family, Kathryn also knit hundreds of caps and mittens for the homeless, toe-warmers for the orthopedic unit of the Marshfield Clinic, stirrup covers for her gynecologist, baby blankets, and afghans for St. Mary's Hospital fund-raisers.  Her husband often said her epitaph would read, ""She finished her last row!""

 

Kathryn loved to travel, and with her husband, visited six of the seven continents, and most of the 50 states.  She was always the best at the Geography Trivial Pursuit questions.

 

Kathryn is survived by her daughters: Patricia Taplick (Daniel Groteke) of St. Joseph, Michigan, Jane (Edward) Harris of Harpswell, Maine, Kathryn (Gary) Bogenschneider of Mercer, Wisconsin, and Linda Taplick (James Miller) of Madison, Wisconsin; three grandchildren: Michelle Beeman (Barbara Tretheway) of St. Paul, Minnesota, Jennifer Beeman (Daniel Hadley) of Montreal, Canada, and Timothy (Heidi) Bogenschneider of Endeavor, Wisconsin; five great-grandchildren: James Hadley Beeman, Margaret Hadley Beeman, Claire Hadley Beeman, Joclyn Bogenschneider, and Lisa Marie Donsky; and her brother, James (Nancy) Kaeser of Pinehurst, NC.   She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Georgianna Huneke, and her grandson, Mark Bogenschneider.

 

The family wishes to thank the entire staff of Attic Angel Place, especially those in Third Floor Households, for the excellent care and loving kindness shown to Kathryn during the 3 years she resided there.

 

Funeral services will be held at ROSELAWN MEMORIAL PARK CHAPEL, 401 Femrite Drive in Monona, at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, with Rev. Jerry Amstutz officiating.  Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.  on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at the CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, and at the cemetery chapel one half-hour before the time of service.

 

Over the past forty-six years, Kathryn had sponsored 22 children around the world through Christian Children's Fund.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may by made to that organization at 2821 Emerywood Parkway, P.O. Box 26484, Richmond VA 24361-6484.

 

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

608-238-3434

www.cressfuneralservice.com