Obituary for Catherine T. LaSee

Catherine T. LaSee, 89, Stratford, passed away on Friday, February 10, 2023 at home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stratford with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County and serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jonah LaSee, John Rankel, Joe Rankel, Jimmy Rankel, Will Sinsky, Manny Valencia, and Justin Burholder.

Visitation will be from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Monday, February 13 at Sauter/Rembs Funeral Home in Stratford and from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Tuesday at the church. The St. Joseph’s PCCW will recite the rosary at 4:00 pm at the funeral home on Monday.

Catherine was born on December 10, 1933 in Bloomer to Richard and Helen (Sykora) Pecha. She graduated from Bloomer High School and Eau Claire Beautician School. On October 22, 1957 she was united in holy marriage to James LaSee at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cooks Valley.

Cathy was a member of the Little Rose Homemakers Club, a life member of the St. Joseph’s PCCW, and a volunteer cook and server at school lunches, Heritage Days, and church dinners. She was active with her six children in 4H and FFA – taking children, the camper, and cattle to the Wausau Fair. Cathy favored staying home on the farm, tending her flower beds and gardening all summer – pulling numerous weeds. She enjoyed garage sales, sewing, and snow birding 24 winters in Mesa, AZ. Kate, as Jim would call her, baked bread weekly, and spent most days in the kitchen cooking and making a home for her large family. Cooking and canning from farm fresh ingredients, filling 2-3 large freezers and concocting new recipes were her favorite pastimes. Cathy was very religious. A nephew once said, “She is like a nun.”

She is survived by her husband, James, children, Robert (Lori) LaSee of Marshfield, Julia (Allan) Beyer of Unity, Steve LaSee of Spencer, Ruth (Albert) Seckinger of Hartford, Jane (David) Henry of Gilbert, and Lori (Keith) Wessel of Madison, 15 grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Marion (Basil) Michels of Chippewa Falls and brother, Richard (Diane) Pecha Jr. of New Auburn.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandson, Micah LaSee, and sister, Annabell (Eugene) Zwiefelhofer.

Memorials can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Stratford.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Compassus Hospice Care, Marshfield Clinic Heart Department, and Jim’s sisters, Carol, Joan, and Helen for their excellent care.

Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com