Kay E. Beck

WAUNAKEE – Kay E Beck, age 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, with her family by her side. Kay was born on April 26, 1935, in Pardeeville, Wis., the daughter of John and Betty (Dalton) Thomas. Kay graduated from Pardeeville High School in 1953, then started working at Farmers Mutual where she met her lifelong friend and former roommate, Joanne Hamilton.

Kay married the love of her life, Herbert W Beck, on July 23, 1955, and together they worked the Beck family farm, while raising their three children, Mike, Dave, and Barb.

Kay loved to watch sports in particular Badger football having attended at every Big 10 stadium and Badger men’s and women’s basketball. When her sons were younger, she didn’t miss a Waunakee football game, wrestling match or softball game. Herb and Kay played a monthly card club and Kay looked forward to her monthly birthday dinner group. A very decent bowler, Kay travelled with her team to tournaments throughout the US. She enjoyed travel, having visited many national parks, monuments, and famous cities. It was the trip of a lifetime when Kay and her sister, Bonnie, went to Ireland together. Kay was an avid reader with her novel, magazine, or newspaper always nearby.

Kay’s primary job was mother and farmer’s wife with all that entailed. However, she also worked for General Casualty Insurance Company and followed by a long-held position as a data entry operator at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue where she made many wonderful friends. She volunteered at St Mary of the Lake Church helping with a variety of events including the annual fruitcake fundraiser. She was famous for her potato salad at family and friend parties.

Kay is survived by her children, Mike Beck, Dave (Kary) Beck, and Barbara Beck; her 4 grandchildren, Henry Beck, Steve (Carolyn) Beck, Zachary (Maeghan) Beck, and Olivia Beck; and her curly-haired great-granddaughter, Evelyn Beck. Kay is also survived by her siblings, Bonnie (Tom) Cross, Gail (Wayne) Vandenlangenberg, and Gordon Thomas.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Thomas Thomas; and daughter-in-law, Becky Halpin-Beck.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciation to BrightStar Senior Living Waunakee and Agrace HospiceCare for taking such incredible care of her.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 2nd at 9-10:30am at Winn-Cress Funeral Home, 5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee. Followed by a mass and funeral service at 11am at St Mary of the Lake Church, 5460 Mary Lake Road, Waunakee. Burial will commence after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that honorariums be made in Kay’s name to either American Parkinson’s Disease Association of Wisconsin bit.ly/APDA-kaybeck or the UW Health Carbone Cancer Center bit.ly/Cancer-kaybeck.

Winn-Cress Funeral Service

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI 53597