Katherine Denk
Katherine “Cassie” Denk, after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis, was welcomed into her eternal heavenly home on March 16, 2022.
Cassie was the youngest child of seven born to the late Joseph and Barbara Vesely on April 25, 1942, on a farm outside of Athens. She spent her childhood and most of her adult life in Athens, attending St. Anthony’s Catholic School and later graduating from Athens High School. On July 18, 1964, she married Eugene Denk of Athens at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Eau Claire. During their life together, Cassie’s love of faith, family and friends was portrayed in her gift of hospitality. She enjoyed life’s simple joys, which included sewing, baking, gardening, flower arranging, singing in the church choir, along with the countless hours of volunteer work for St. Anthony’s parish. For several years, she enjoyed employment as the school secretary there. One of her favorite pastimes was cheering for the home teams, which included the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Athens Bluejays. She had the sweetest personality, a great sense of humor, and a positive outlook which never seemed to change, even as she took her last breath.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Eugene; daughters: Stacey (Randy) Witucki and Joelle (Jeremy) Heil; grandchildren: Robyn (Adam) Foye, Jessica (Kevin) Schaler and Jackson and Will Heil; and great-grandchildren: Asher, Amelia, Gracin and Brody.
She is also survived by her siblings: Mary Ann Stahnke, Elaine Bauer, Eleanor Endres, Robert Vesely and James Vesely.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Barbara Vesely, and her brother, Joseph Vesely; as well as her brothers-in-law: Norbert Stahnke, Leonard Bauer, Richard Endres and Bernard Denk; and sisters-in-law: Nan Vesely, Peggy Vesely and Mary Denk.
The family would like to thank Clarice Welbes, Cassie’s dedicated personal care giver, Marathon County Aging & Disability Resource Center, Aspirus Visiting Nurses, and Interim Healthcare, including Tim Moe, for the care and attention they provided during her time in hospice. We would also like to acknowledge Roseann Keen, her regular hospice nurse who went above and beyond to provide care, comfort and love through the duration of Cassie’s final days. We could never thank Reverend George Graham, Dwight Lenhard and all of our friends and family enough, who took the time to stop and visit, send a card or make a phone call, and lend a helping hand and a smile-it will never be forgotten!
A funeral mass will be celebrated in Cassie’s honor on March 26, 2022, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Athens, from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider any memorials be designated to St. Anthony Catholic Church/School.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer. com.
Paid obituary 118320
