March 5, 2026 – West Bend, Wi – Kathleen M. Kraft (Schaefer) formerly of West Bend and Brown Deer, passed away on February 28 at the age of 86, after battling Alzheimer’s. She was born March 14, 1939 to Florian and Bibiana Schaefer in Milwaukee.
Kathy graduated from Divine Savior High School in Milwaukee. On July 21, 1962, she was united in marriage to Gerard Bruce Kraft. Early in her life she worked at Northwestern Mutual and then Kohls Distribution Center in her later years.
Her most important job was being a stay-at home-mom for her children. Kathy loved to crochet, making afghans for many family members. She also loved baking, cooking, bowling, bingo, and gambling bus trips to visit the casinos.
She will always be remembered and loved by her five children, Kalene (Bill), Kristin (Dan), Kenneth, Kerrin, and Kelley (Scott); her nine grandchildren Austin, Alec (Tori), Adam, Joshua, Jordan (Jess), Rebekah, Trenton, Lucian, and Londyn; and her four great grandchildren Kayleigh, Oakley, Rosalie, and Wesley. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Sherida, brother-in-law Chuck plus many other family members.
Preceded in death by her husband of 38 years G. Bruce Kraft, her parents, her sister JoAnn, brother Neil and other in-laws.
We would like to send our sincere thank you to Frontida Adelaide Place in Fond du Lac for taking such good care of our mother over the past year and a half and to Compassus Hospice for their compassion during her last month.
There will be an intimate memorial on Saturday, March 14, starting at 11 a.m. until noon at Washington County Memorial Park Chapel in West Bend, with the burial immediately after. We can say goodbye on what would have been Kathy’s 87th birthday.
