Kathryn F. Coonen, formerly of Brillion, died peacefully at age 82 on March 10, 2013 in West Bend, Wisconsin, following a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Born Catherine Kubale on June 13, 1930 in Reedsville, the daughter of Joseph and Josephine Novak Kubale, she changed the spelling of her name while in her teens. She is a graduate of Reedsville High School, class of 1947 and Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science of Nursing, class of 1951. She met Willard "Bill" Coonen in college, and they were wed on April 18, 1953 in Reedsville. Katie loved music. Her children and grandchildren have warm memories of singing at the piano as she played. She began playing the organ in church as a youth in Reedsville and carried on the tradition at St. Mary's, and later Holy Family Catholic Parish in Brillion. Katie was a member of Christian Mothers. She was also actively involved in the community, including the Brillion park board, Brillion Area Credit Union board, Girl Scouts and the American Cancer Society. She had many friends, including both ladies and couples bridge clubs and a close knit group from her nursing class. She is survived by her son Father Timothy Coonen, omi (Ottawa, Ontario), her three daughters and their families: Carrie Plamann and Rolf Hagberg (Duluth, MN) and children Joshua, Emily (Mark Jansen) and Rachel (Nathan Wyant) as well as three great-grandchildren; Paula and Jeff Stadtmueller (Cottage Grove, WI) and sons Sean and Eric; and Laura and Randy Westerman (Slinger, WI) and sons Jacob, Ryan and Ben. Also surviving are her brother Bernard Kubale, sister Dorothy Reinke, and several sisters-in-law. She was predeceased by her husband Willard in 2012, her parents Joseph and Josephine Novak Kubale, her brothers Lt. Edward, William, Lawrence, Robert and sister Barbara Meulemans, as well as sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Brillion with her son Fr. Tim officiating. Gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the liturgy to follow at 11:00 a.m. A memorial fund has been established in Katie's memory.
