Kathleen Bergmann

Kathleen Bergmann, 90, of Shawano, passed away peacefully at Birch Hill Care Center on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Kathy was born on Jan. 26, 1935, in Kenosha to Frank and Ottilie (Kessler) Urick. Kathy was a graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha and completed nursing school at Madison General Hospital School of Nursing in Madison, where she met and married her future husband, Dr. Franklyn T. (Tom) Bergmann. They were married on June 16, 1956, and were married for 61 years before his passing on July 1, 2017. Kathy was a loving wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Kathy was the kind of person that made a difference and did it quietly and with grace, detail and humility. Kathy was a longtime member of Shawano’s United Methodist Church, serving many roles such as Mary Circle, Cradle Roll, and MOVE committee, including delivering bulletins to shut-ins for years, so no one was forgotten. She never missed sending cards and care packages on birthdays and other special events, always with a handwritten note with the right message to make you feel special. Kathy loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There were many trips to visit family in Mississippi, Texas, Nebraska and Minnesota that resulted in water balloon fights and other mischievous activities. Kathy loved her family and playing games and cards with anyone who would take her on. She always had the card to peg extra points in cribbage, so no one wanted to play before her. She was an excellent cook and provided snacks and meals to fit every occasion. Kathy especially loved the family trips to Florida to visit family and Disney World. Kathy fully embraced her inner child when visiting the different parks. Tom and Kathy were devoted music lovers, and attended many shows and musicals, mostly at the Weidner Center in Green Bay and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in Minnesota. Their many boats over the years usually had Neil Diamond playing with family and friends, while navigating on the Wolf River and Shawano Lake. Kathy was an avid reader who usually settled down in her chair to read late at night, especially ‘foreign intrigue’s fiction. She loved the action of the Cussler, Follett, Clancy, etc. novels. She created countless Danish Hardanger count-thread cross stitch projects, mostly of flowers and woodland creatures. She had plenty of time to stitch while cheering on their beloved Green Bay Packers. Tom and Kathy loved their life for 50-plus years on the Wolf River with their friends and family, nicknaming their home “Eagle’s Aire,” avidly noting the migration of eagles, cranes and other birds. Kathy loved to walk and tend to her yard. Daily mid-afternoon feeding time for the birds and critters was mandatory and she loved the company of her children, grandchildren and faithful dogs. She spent hours transplanting wild plants, creating habitats for God’s creatures, including squirrels, coons and occasionally, possums. One of the grandkids said, “Gramma Kathy is the closest thing to Mother Nature that I’ll ever know.” Kathy was a breast cancer survivor. She did not talk or dwell on it, but her story of beating cancer at 40 and living an additional 50 years is a story of inspiration and hope for many who are having to face the challenge. Kathy is survived by her son and daughter, Tom (Lisa) Bergmann and Christine (Brett) Helgeson; 12 grandchildren, Chase (Reba) Bergmann, Bailey (Erich) Steger, Ryan Helgeson, Christian Bergmann, Bethany (Aidan) Durie, Hannah Bergmann, Benjamin Helgeson, Sarah Bergmann, Marianna Helgeson, Joshua Bergmann, Daniel Bergmann and Caroline Bergmann; and five great-grandchildren, Ella, Toby and Tommy Durie, Emmerich and Mathilda Steger. We would like to extend our extreme gratitude to the staff of Birch Hill Health Services and Heartland Hospice for caring and advocating for Kathy and also sneaking her cookies which she enjoyed endlessly. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Shawano County Humane Society are preferred. We love you, Mom, and will miss you greatly. #ForTheGoodTimes and as you always ended a visit “Hoy!” — Tom and Christine and the rest of the ‘crew’ www.swedbergfuneralhome.com