KATHARINE BREHM

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Katharine Gilbert Brehm peacefully passed into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 8th, 2017. Kate was born April 7, 1921 in Neenah, Wisconsin to Frances Mabel Kimberly and Albert Clark Gilbert.  She attended Washington School in Neenah and Winnebago Day School in Menasha before attending Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She then attended the Masters School at Dobbs Ferry, New York, where she completed high school. She attended Lawrence University for two years before transferring to the University of Arizona in Tucson where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1943.  At the University of Arizona, she met her beloved husband, William Brehm. She and Bill were married on February 1, 1944 shortly after which time he entered the service during WWII as a US Army Second Lieutenant. When Bill went overseas in June 1944, Kate moved home with her parents in Neenah where her sisters Priscilla, Gloria, and Alice also lived and had children during the war years. When the war ended, Bill returned and they settled in Neenah in 1947 where he was employed in market research at Kimberly-Clark. Kate and Bill enjoyed 59 years of marriage until his passing in 2003.

Kate and Bill were the parents of seven children, two sons William Jr. (Marnie) and James (Annette), and five daughters: Frances Cox (Dennis) Sally Yazbec, Katharine Zager (Daniel), Susan Salm (Christopher) and Jane Lang (Fred) and former daughter in law Trish Brehm. They had twenty grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren.  Her children and grandchildren were Kate's pride and joy.

Kate was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters Frances Gilbert, Priscilla Catlin, Gloria Allison and her brother, Nicolas Gilbert. She is survived by her sister Alice Davis and brother in law Dan Allison.

Kate was an active mother and community volunteer and served as a member of the Emergency Society, the Neenah Historical Society, as a president of the Women's Tuesday Club, as a puppetry teacher with the Neenah recreation department, and as costume maker for Riverside Players. She was a Sunday school teacher and lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Neenah, where she was a Deacon assisting with communion and flowers. She was a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, volunteered as an aide at Washington School, and served as a volunteer at Theda Clark Memorial Hospital for over 60 years.

In addition to her community service, Kate still found time to teach and take her children to lessons in swimming, dancing, baton twirling, art, music, sailing, Scouting, summer camp, and Vacation Bible School. She planned countless birthday parties, decorated Easter eggs, carved pumpkins, baked Christmas cookies, watched her children march in the Memorial Day parades, and watched the 4th of July fireworks with her family every year. She loved the Neenah community in which her family roots extend back to 1848.

Kate was an accomplished gardener, watercolor painter, and avid reader. She taught herself to sew and made clothes for her children and also knit them sweaters and mittens. She enjoyed traveling and encouraged her children by planning car trips to many places throughout the country. She was active in Bible study groups for over 50 years and was an active member of the Women's Circles at the Presbyterian Church. Kate moved to the Neenah VNA assisted living community in 2009 where she had many friends. The family very much appreciated the loving and thoughtful care that Kate received while living there.

Kate left a legacy of love for her family, friends, community, and most of all her Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom she committed her life. She demonstrated a true servant's heart all of her life. Her cheerful and playful spirit was admired and enjoyed by her large family and many friends. She will be deeply missed as she was so very deeply loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her. We know that she was met by Jesus with the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21.

A memorial service to celebrate Kate's life will be held on Thursday, February 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Neenah. The family will greet friends beginning at 12:30 until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be sent to the Neenah Historical Society or the First Presbyterian Church of Neenah.