In the early morning hours of February 2nd during a blizzard, Katheryn Etter died in the comfort of her home where her family has lived for 91 years. She had been diagnosed with a terminal malignancy three weeks before.
Katheryn was born during a blizzard on the Bowen homestead farm in Oneco Township Illinois on January 6th, 1915. Her parents were Spencer Elwin Bowen and Angeline Scharer Bowen. When she was five years old, the family moved into the home where she resided at the time of her death. In 1932 she graduated from Monroe High School. As a child, she had two neighbors who had become nurses and inspired her to attend the University of Wisconsin and become a nurse.
Following graduation from the University School of Nursing, she did private duty nursing at the Deaconess Hospital in Monroe and worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. Katheryn then attended the University of Michigan to become a certified public health nurse. After graduation from the University of Michigan, she was employed by the Wisconsin Bureau of Maternal & Child Health. She criss-crossed the state holding baby clinics. Later she worked in Portage County as an assistant school nurse. She then accepted a position as a school nurse in Waukesha where she worked until her marriage.
On August 10th, 1940, Katheryn was married to John T. (Duke) Etter at St. John's Church. While her husband was serving in the European theatre of World War II, she worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison and then accepted a position as school nurse in Monroe. In 1944 she taught the first nurse's aide classes at St. Clare Hospital through the Red Cross. She was a Green County nurse for some time before again accepting a position as the school nurse for Monroe. At age 77 she retired from that position after 36 years of service.
Katheryn was a tireless community servant whose work was recognized by many organizations. She received an award from the Monroe Jaycettes for her outstanding contributions to Green County, the very first recognition by the state School Nurse's Association as School Nurse of the Year, the Service Award from the Monroe Jaycees, the Alumna of the Year Award from the University of Wisconsin Alumni Club of Green County, and the Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award. The Youmans Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs for recognizing the most notable contributions to citizenship in the state. She also received the Monroe Clinic Quality of Life Award for recognition of work done in the Monroe community.
Katheryn was the founder of the Monroe Christmas Stocking in 1949 and a founding member of the United Way and the Monroe Art Center. She was an active member and board member in many organizations which included the Green County Historical Society, Historic Monroe, Green County Food Pantry, Salvation Army, Monroe Clinic Homecare, and the Behring Senior Center. She also served as the Cheese Days historian and on committees at St. John's Church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 64 years, the Monroe Women's Club for 70 years, the Lida Ludlow Reading Club, and the Monroe Trails and Treasures Questers. Katheryn's busy life also included teaching Sunday School, being a Girl Scout leader, a room mother and supporting the many activities of her husband and children.
Katheryn is survived by her children, Marlene (Jack) Reeder, Martha Luedeking, John T. (Gloria) Etter, Mary (Matthew) Flynn, grandchildren Scott (Stacy) Reeder, John T. "Brad" (Kelly) Etter, Lindsay Etter, and great grandchildren Alex and Kendall. She was preceded in death by her husband, eight brothers and sisters; grandson, John Reeder and son-in-law Robert T. Luedeking.
Knowing how Katheryn felt about doing for others, history and the arts, she would prefer memorials to be sent to Monroe Christmas Stocking, Monroe Art Center, Green County Historical Society, Green County Food Pantry, Green County Chapter of the Salvation Army, Behring Senior Center, Monroe Clinic Hospice, and St. John's United Church of Christ.
Memorial Services will be held at St. John's United Church of Christ in Monroe, on Saturday, February 12th at 1 PM.
Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Katheryn was born during a blizzard on the Bowen homestead farm in Oneco Township Illinois on January 6th, 1915. Her parents were Spencer Elwin Bowen and Angeline Scharer Bowen. When she was five years old, the family moved into the home where she resided at the time of her death. In 1932 she graduated from Monroe High School. As a child, she had two neighbors who had become nurses and inspired her to attend the University of Wisconsin and become a nurse.
Following graduation from the University School of Nursing, she did private duty nursing at the Deaconess Hospital in Monroe and worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. Katheryn then attended the University of Michigan to become a certified public health nurse. After graduation from the University of Michigan, she was employed by the Wisconsin Bureau of Maternal & Child Health. She criss-crossed the state holding baby clinics. Later she worked in Portage County as an assistant school nurse. She then accepted a position as a school nurse in Waukesha where she worked until her marriage.
On August 10th, 1940, Katheryn was married to John T. (Duke) Etter at St. John's Church. While her husband was serving in the European theatre of World War II, she worked at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison and then accepted a position as school nurse in Monroe. In 1944 she taught the first nurse's aide classes at St. Clare Hospital through the Red Cross. She was a Green County nurse for some time before again accepting a position as the school nurse for Monroe. At age 77 she retired from that position after 36 years of service.
Katheryn was a tireless community servant whose work was recognized by many organizations. She received an award from the Monroe Jaycettes for her outstanding contributions to Green County, the very first recognition by the state School Nurse's Association as School Nurse of the Year, the Service Award from the Monroe Jaycees, the Alumna of the Year Award from the University of Wisconsin Alumni Club of Green County, and the Theodora Youmans Citizenship Award. The Youmans Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs for recognizing the most notable contributions to citizenship in the state. She also received the Monroe Clinic Quality of Life Award for recognition of work done in the Monroe community.
Katheryn was the founder of the Monroe Christmas Stocking in 1949 and a founding member of the United Way and the Monroe Art Center. She was an active member and board member in many organizations which included the Green County Historical Society, Historic Monroe, Green County Food Pantry, Salvation Army, Monroe Clinic Homecare, and the Behring Senior Center. She also served as the Cheese Days historian and on committees at St. John's Church. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 64 years, the Monroe Women's Club for 70 years, the Lida Ludlow Reading Club, and the Monroe Trails and Treasures Questers. Katheryn's busy life also included teaching Sunday School, being a Girl Scout leader, a room mother and supporting the many activities of her husband and children.
Katheryn is survived by her children, Marlene (Jack) Reeder, Martha Luedeking, John T. (Gloria) Etter, Mary (Matthew) Flynn, grandchildren Scott (Stacy) Reeder, John T. "Brad" (Kelly) Etter, Lindsay Etter, and great grandchildren Alex and Kendall. She was preceded in death by her husband, eight brothers and sisters; grandson, John Reeder and son-in-law Robert T. Luedeking.
Knowing how Katheryn felt about doing for others, history and the arts, she would prefer memorials to be sent to Monroe Christmas Stocking, Monroe Art Center, Green County Historical Society, Green County Food Pantry, Green County Chapter of the Salvation Army, Behring Senior Center, Monroe Clinic Hospice, and St. John's United Church of Christ.
Memorial Services will be held at St. John's United Church of Christ in Monroe, on Saturday, February 12th at 1 PM.
Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.