VISITATION & FUNERAL
Thursday, April 16, 2026
at
St. Stephen Catholic Church
1414 W. Oakwood Road
Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Visitation: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM

Kathleen E. Lee

It is with deep love and sadness that we announce the passing of Kathleen Lee (Hetzel), who died peacefully at the age of 91, surrounded by family at home.

She leaves behind a remarkable legacy of love and devotion, including her husband of 72 years, Richard Lee, along with her seven children, eleven grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. Her life was a testament to family, faith, and enduring commitment, and she will be remembered for the warmth, strength, and care she gave to all who knew her.

Kathleen enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards, bowling, sewing, crocheting, baking and working beside dad as they took on many renovations to their home, sometimes the same room twice. She continued Grandma Hetzel’s shopping tradition, which began as a Southridge shopping day with cousins, to an Appleton shopping weekend with her daughters, grand-daughters and great grand-children. While she has not joined us in a few years, we continue the tradition of taking over a whole corner of the pool atrium, dining out, a little shopping, but most importantly family time.

Kathleen was the loving mother of Sue (the late Bruce) Pendzich, Pam (David) Kostowicz, Tom (Karen) Lee, Cheryl (the late Tom Downs), Jim, Mary Kay and Linda (Scott Uhlman). Proud grandmother of Mark (Kara) Pendzich, Nicole (David) Uttke, Joanne (Jeff) Volm, Katie (Matt) Levine, Tom (Heather) Lee, Carrie Lee, Samantha (Patrick) Donoghue, Elizabeth (Miles) Hibbs, Michael Pendzich, Stephanie Kostowicz and Joshua (Nicole Haefner) Downs. Delighted great-grandmother of Bryce, Blake, David, Zackery, Matthew, Haley, Morgan, Layla, Tristan, Adelaide, Alexandra, Colton, Jaxson, Louise, Theodore, Kathryn, Milo, Maks and Emmalee. She is further survived by nieces, nephews and life-long friends.

Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents: Norbert and Verna Hetzel (Brickler); mother and father-in-law, Allan and Agnes Lee; brothers Eugene (Ione) Hetzel and Ralph (the late Dolly) Hetzel. Brother-in-law David (the late Carol) Lee, sister-in-law Patricia (the late William Jelinski) and nieces Cathy Hetzel-Yogerst and Patty Jelinski.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, April 16 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 1441 West Oakwood Road in Oak Creek. 9:00 a.m. visitation, Mass at 11:00 a.m.

She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

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