Kathy (Kathleen) Louise Soltwisch

Kathy was born January 11, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois and spent her early years in Wheaton as an only child of Joseph and Louise Palacz. She attended Longfellow Elementary, Wheaton Junior High School, and St. Francis High School graduating in 1961. She continued in her education at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI graduating in 1965. That was a momentous year as she also married, E. Grant Soltwisch, on July 10, 1965 at Chapel One, KI Sawyer AFB. They celebrated 58 years together even though the Chaplain gave them only three weeks. She had three children, Gregory, Rebecca, and Deborah. Those early years were spent raising and loving her family, but she also continued her education, earning a Masters degree from Northern Michigan University where on an assistanceship, she learned that she could and liked teaching. She taught in the English Department for 15 years and also earned her Education Specialist degree.

In her youth, Kathy became a Brownie Girl Scout and Junior Scout. Girl Scouts remained a vital part of her life. She became a troop leader when her daughter, Becky, became a brownie and then continued as a troop leader all the years her daughter’s participated and then also for her granddaughter, Jessica. After ending her teaching career, she was hired on the professional Girl Scout staff as a Fund Development Director and Field Director. She also kept leadership of her own group of girls in Marquette. During this time, she also became involved with the American Indian Scouting Association, a joint venture between Indian Tribes, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. She served on their board as membership chair for nearly 20 years and earned their highest award, the Gray Wolf. AISA held a seminar each year hosted by a different tribe. This helped feed her love of travel and eventually led to her and her husband visiting all 50 states, several Canadian provinces, and many other countries including Mexico and most of Europe looking for family connections.

She discovered she had been adopted at birth and, in later years, made the connection. She has now found a new family of siblings, nieces, and nephews.

Kathy lived her faith, helping others, being active in church and serving her Lord, God. She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, served as the counsel president during a difficult time for the church. Her love of music was expressed by her singing in the choir for nearly 50 years! In addition, she created “Jam Ministry” making and donating hundreds of jars of jam and “Grandma Pickles” to support the churches Community Assistant Fund for the needy.

Kathy is survived by husband, Grant; son, Greogry and wife Jodi; daughter, Rebecca; daughter, Deborah and husband Dan; granddaughters, Jessica Fluette, Katrina, Amelia, Isabella Soltwisch, Tiffany Acorn, and Kelsie Baumann; grandsons, Timothy Soltwisch, Dirk Fluette, Tom Fure, and Eric, Caleb, Alec Morris. She is also survived by a sister, Mary Egan and brothers, Michael, Patrick Pakenham and multiple nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at the Messiah Lutheran Church at 9:30 am on Saturday, September 9, 2023 with services beginning at 11:00 am. A lunch will follow the service where you can share stories. A public burial service will be held at Park Cemetery on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to UPAWS, Girl Scouts, and Messiah Lutheran Church.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.