Kathy Hager

Kathy J. Hager, 77, of Neenah, passed away on December 18, after bravely and courageously fighting cancer.  She was born on October 19, 1948, the daughter of Lucius S. and Jean E. Matteson, in Belleville, IL.  

Kathy is survived by her husband of 56 years, David A. Hager, son Jeffrey D. Hager (Cynara Mayer) of Manitowoc, daughter Cassandra E. Hager of Milwaukee, brother Dr. Thomas R. Matteson DDS, (Constance) of Albuquerque, NM), sister Kristy A. Hanus (Jeffry) of Santa Fe, NM, granddaughter Marti J. Hager and grandson August L. Hager III, both of Hortonville, WI.  

Kathy attended several grade schools in Belleville and graduated from Belleville Township High School in June 1966. After high school, she enrolled at Western Illinois University in September 1966. On her first day of classes at WIU, she met her future husband, Dave. Kathy completed three years of college at WIU, majoring in Elementary Education. The couple dated for those three years at WIU and married in Belleville, IL, on June 21, 1969.

They lived in the Chicago area for several years, eventually deciding to return to college in 1971 and attend Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, so Kathy could complete her final year of college.  

After completing her degree at SIUE, the couple moved to the Washington, DC area in 1972. Kathy was hired by the Fairfax County, Virginia school system to teach elementary education. She taught at Hunter’s Wood Elementary School, in Reston, VA, for nearly five years.

In 1977, Kathy and Dave moved back to the Midwest, initially settling in Appleton, WI, and eventually moving to Neenah in 1981. Beginning in the Fall Semester, 1977, the Neenah Joint School District hired Kathy to teach elementary school. For the next 30 years, she taught at Roosevelt Elementary School … with a one-year stint at Coolidge Elementary School.  

Kathy became a fixture for decades as the second grade teacher at Roosevelt. During the time she taught there, she was an innovative and award-winning teacher who was adored by her students. She was highly respected and treasured by the parents. Her warm personality and professional skills earned her the trust, affection and respect of her colleagues.

Although Kathy retired from the NJSD in 2009, many of her now-grown former students would often greet her in the community with warm hugs, smiles and shared memories. Remarkably, she remembered every former student who greeted her over the years.

Kathy was a wonderful and dedicated mother. She enthusiastically supported her children and grandchildren in their respective school activities, community programs, athletic events, as well as their academic and hobby endeavors. She was also a wonderful and caring “mother” to a variety of family pets over the years, that included a parakeet, several fish, a hamster, and numerous house cats. 

 Kathy remained very active in retirement. Given her easy-going nature and gentle personality, she made and kept friends quite naturally. She thoroughly enjoyed her weekly water aerobics classes at the Neenah YMCA, where she met and made many close friends.

Kathy developed a unique talent as a watercolor artist. She enrolled in a community painting class and made a whole new group of friends.  She discovered that she had an innate ability to create beautiful and delicate color paintings that became proud displays in her home or gifts to family members.

Many of her former teaching colleagues remained her close friends in retirement. Kathy enjoyed getting together with a group that regularly met monthly as a book club. There was also a special group of retired teacher friends that made an annual migration to Milwaukee to attend a Brewers’ home game.   

Kathy’s family extends their gratitude and thanks to Theda Care oncological and hospice teams for their kind, thoughtful and professional treatment, empathy and constant kindness, as well as to many of her friends who thoughtfully stayed in touch with her, often coming to visit, bringing food, fun memories, stories, prayers and supportive words.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday January 8, 2026 at Westgor Funeral Home, 205 W. Doty Ave, Neenah, WI 54956. A funeral service will immediately follow at 7:00 pm. Kathy will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Neenah.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Kathy’s memory to the Neenah Animal Shelter.