Obit: Kaatz, RaeJean (1942 - 2023)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kaatz, Schultz, Nowak, Leichtnam, Holl, Ropella, Lehman, Knute, Verbeke, DeMaio, Waters, Neider, Holtzheimer

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 2/07/2023

Kaatz, RaeJean (16 June 1942 – 7 February 2023)

RaeJean Kaatz, 80, of Dorchester, passed away on February 7, 2023, Cambridge Senior Center under the tender care of Moments Hospice in Hudson.

RaeJean was born on June 16, 1942, the daughter of Juanita (Schultz) and Raymond Nowak in Wausau, WI. She was adopted by Donald Leichtnam after the marriage to Red. She grew up in the Edgar area and was united in marriage to Allan Kaatz on April 4, 1959. He preceded her in death on April 2, 2020.

Raejean and Allan moved several times over the years with starting a farm and bread route in Fremont, with moving to Ogdensburg, with Allan starting his milk hauling business, then to Curtiss, and finally Dorchester.

RaeJean was a great wife, mother and grandmother. She was proud of her children and especially loved being a grandma to Amanda (Gabe) Holl, Justin (Andrea) Ropella; Bradley (Brittany) Kaatz, Felicia (Charlie) Kaatz, Sam Lehman, LeRoy (Cari) Lehman, Rosanna Lehman; Samantha (Matt) Knute, Lindsey (Corey) Verbeke; Rachel (Zach) Kaatz, Aaron (Chase) Kaatz and Great Grandma to: Cael and Ashton Lehman, Caleb DeMaio, Charlie, Andi and Finley Kaatz and Easton Knute and soon to be a new great grandchild this April.

RaeJean was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Curtiss and was a faithful member. She enjoyed traveling, playing bingo, putting puzzles together, reading, playing cards with family and friends and watching television, especially watching westerns and hallmark channel.

RaeJean is survived by her daughter Jayne (Bob) Ropella, Inver Grover Heights MN, son Jeff (Barb), Fremont, daughter Jody (Jim) Verbeke, Shakopee, MN, son Jamie (Jenny), Dorchester and daughter Krista (Keith) Waters, Savage, MN. Also surviving are brother Donald (Shirley) Leichtnam, Rick (Debbie) Nowak and Rodney Nowak; Sisters Nancy (August) Neider and Lori Holtzheimer; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews and many great friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Juanita (Red) & Donald Leichtnam and Raymond Nowak; her husband Allan, twin grandson’s Joshua and Bryant Verbeke, brother Randy Nowak.

A Visitation will be held Friday, February 17, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford. Funeral Services will be held at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Curtiss on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the service. A live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website.