Obituary of Mary Kawatski

Mary Kawatski, a lifelong resident of Waukesha County, died peacefully at Kensington Care Center in Waukesha on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Mary was the oldest child of Frederick and Eleanor Esser, a farm couple in the Town of Genesee, who brought her into this world on May 15, 1921. She married Ned G.E. Kawatski on June 1, 1940, and they lived together on a small farm (known by some as “Belly Acres”) on Westmorland Road (MacArthur Road) in the Town of Waukesha where they had 14 children. Ned preceded her in death on October 1, 1965, and Mary succeeded him as the clerk for the Town of Waukesha, a position she held for many years. In addition to her life as a mother, Mary was a farmer (mainly goats), a gardener, a homemaker, a seamstress, and in later years, a quilter. During her 97 years, Mary met and overcame life’s trials and tribulations with dignity and grace and never lost sight of her faith in the process.

Mary is survived by her children, Theresa (James) Davis, Joseph (Sandra), John, James, Jay, Jeffery (Suzette), Jacob (George), Jerome (Chris), Susan (David) Zinke, Jesse (Baryb), Julian, Jerald (Tammy), and Jason (Ann); by 19 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild, and by her sister Annabelle. Her son Jude, brother Charles, and sister Agnes predeceased her.

The visitation for Mary will be held on Saturday, August 18, 2018 starting at 10:00 a.m. at St. William Catholic Church, 440 N. Moreland Blvd. Waukesha, WI 53188 and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. William Catholic Church are greatly appreciated.