Obit: Goodness, Kathleen Anne (1930 - 2009)

 
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Surnames: Goodness, Whitman, Goderich, Dousman, Schreiner, Henker, Castellanos, Esclozu, Schlager, Kersten, Eskritt, Stefanski, Gorski, Baum, Dulak, Ochs, Helminiak, Polley, Treible, Kollock, Diermeier

----Source: Marshfield News Herald, Marshfield, Wood Co., WI, Fri., 30 Jan. 2009

Goodness, Kathleen Anne (9 July 1930 - 27 Jan. 2009)

Kathleen Anne Goodness, 78, of 841 11th St. N., Wisconsin Rapids, peacefully passed away Tues. evening, Jan. 27, 2009, at 9:11 p.m. From home, with her loving family surrounding her, Kathy entered eternal peace, following a five-year struggle with the deteriorating and debilitating illness of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Born July 9, 1930, in Plainfield, she lived her early childhood on the family farm in Bancroft, with her three brothers and two sisters. She later attended and graduated from the Tri-County public schools before attending the Wisconsin State University in Stevens Point. It was during the time she was working at the Ahdawagam Paperboard Products Division of Consolidated Papers Inc. that she met and fell in love with William Goodness. Their married life began June 16, 1951, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Plainfield, and they have enjoyed 57 wonderful years together as husband and wife.

Kathy was a devoted homemaker and loving mother to her 10 children, often sacrificing so that they had a Catholic elementary and secondary education. She was a former member of the PCCW and, with her husband, a past co-president of the Saint Peter and Paul Home and School Association. Through her favorite pastimes of cooking, canning and baking, she shared her God-given gifts with all those who knew her. She enjoyed a special relationship with nature, animals and pets of all kinds. Kathy especially loved to watch and feed all of her backyard friends. Camping, square and round dancing, traveling and doting on her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren filled her life. She had a passion for sharing what she had with others. Many in the community knew her as the food-demo lady at the Baker Drive IGA. She always had time to visit with anyone and it was never long before they became a friend or part of the family. Her life was a marvelous example that taught all of us the true meaning of selfless love.

In eternity, Kathy has joined her mother, Luella Mae (Whitman) Kollock, and her father, Henry Oliver Kollock. She is survived by her husband, Bill, their children, Michael, (JoAnn) Wisconsin Rapids; Thomas, (Grisell "Gigi" Goderich), Dousman; Michele (Dennis) Eskritt, Niagara; Tamara (Todd) Schreiner, Stratford; Danielle (Bill) Henker; Oshkosh; Dawn (Mike) Garski, Wisconsin Rapids; Joel (Joksan Castellanos), Los Angeles, Calif.; Joan (Mike) Dulak, Stevens Point; Patrick (Terri Cate) Esclozu, Costa Rica; Nancy, Zionsville, Ind.; and 19 grandchildren: Michael, Jonathan and Matthew Goodness; Bernard Schlaeger; Marissa and Kersten Goodness; Christina (Michael) Ochs; Ryan, Jeremy and Nathan Eskritt; Jason (Darlene Stefanski), Alyssa and Benjamin (Jenna Helminiak) Garski; Nicholas (Heather) Baum; Bradley and Sean Baum; Christopher Dulak; Harrison and Ava Goodness; five great-grandchildren: Brett, Hannah, Elaina and Isabella Ochs; and Carson Helminiak; two sisters, Alice (Gene) Polley, Bancroft, Patricia Treible, Stevens Point; and three brothers, James (Judy) Kollock, Bancroft; William (Carol) Kollock, Arizona; Robert (Pat) Kollock, Wisconsin Rapids.

The Higgins Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fri. Jan. 30 at Higgins Funeral Home and then again at St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Sat. from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services at 10:30 a.m. A community prayer service will be held Fri. evening at the Higgins Funeral Home at 6:30 p.m. Officiating the funeral Mass will be Father Joseph Diermeier. Burial will be in the St. Martins Catholic Cemetery in the town of Buena Vista. A video memorial can be viewed Fri., at www.higginsfuneralhome.net.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to either the Wisconsin Rapids Area Catholic Schools or Ministry Home Hospice of Marshfield.

Momma, you gave to all so freely and without malice. Although your breath here on earth has ceased, a bright new light now radiates in heaven. You are home now, momma, you're at peace.