Obituary of Kathryn Virginia Ellen Kotas

Age 81, of Colby, formerly of Marshfield, passed away on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at the Colonial Center in Colby.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1 PM on Friday, November 22, 2019 at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. Mark Krueger officiating. A time of visitation will be held from 11 AM until time of services at Life Tributes. Following the service, Kathy will be laid to rest in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Marshfield. The honor of pallbearer will belong to Jerry Schmitz, Tyler Morrison, Gary Morrison, T.J. Davis, Matt Elmhorst and Pete Drachenberg. Honorary pallbearer will be Ashley Fleischman.

Kathy was born on April 25, 1938 in the Town of Lincoln, Wood County, the daughter of Lester and Pearl (Kenyon) Morrison. She graduated from Spencer High School. On April 30, 1958, she was united in marriage to Wayne Kotas in Iowa. Sadly, he passed away on October 18, 1987. She was employed with Central Wisconsin Cooperative (CWC) for 41 years, retiring in July of 2007. Her temporary position setting up customers in the new data system at CWC began in 1966 and soon became permanent; as the company grew, she took on more of an accounting role along with customer orders and helping anywhere that she was needed. In her time at CWC she made many lasting friendships. Anyone who knew Kathy loved her sweet, kind and always helpful demeanor.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stratford.

Kathy enjoyed polka dancing, flower gardening, crossword puzzles and traveling.

Kathy will be greatly missed by her daughter Shari (Jerry Schmitz) Hebert of Spencer; her granddaughter Ashley (Marcus Randall) Fleischman of Eau Claire; her great-grandson arriving in February 2020; her brothers Ray (Donna) Morrison of Loyal and Jim (Karlyn) Morrison of Loyal; her sister Linda (Chuck Brody) Elmhorst of Neillsville; her brother-in-law Bennie Mootz of Colby; her longtime friend Carl Brzezinski of Wausau and her fur grandbabies Mr. Ziggles and Houston along with many special nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lester and Pearl (Kenyon) Morrison; her husband Wayne; her sister and brother-in-law Lois (Stanley) Voelker and her sister Marlene Mootz.

A special thanks to Colonial Center for the loving care you gave to my mom and to St. Croix Hospice.

Thank you to Arlene Bronk and Alice Buchholz for adopting mom as your own and Mary Anne Leffel for being a great friend and roommate.

Her arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. Please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and condolences.