Obituary for Kathleen Rae Cook Urban

Kathleen Rae Cook Urban was born November 9, 1931, in Nekoosa, WI to Bertha and Webster Cook in the upstairs bedroom of her grandparents. Throughout her childhood she lived in various cities from Nekoosa, WI to the mining camps of May, Idaho and West Linn, Oregon. Upon her parents’ divorce, Kathleen, brother Gilbert and mother returned to Wisconsin Rapids.

Kathleen received her education at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church and graduated from Lincoln High School’s class of 1949 in Wisconsin Rapids, while taking care of her brother Gilbert while her mother worked. An excellent student Kathleen was accepted to Augsburg College, Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing and received her diploma in 1952. Straight out of nursing school, she worked double shifts at the Hudson, WI area hospital during the polio pandemic. She stated that one of the greatest science accomplishments of her lifetime was polio vaccine and the lives it saved. In 1953, Kathleen returned home to accept a position as an industrial nurse at Consolidated Paper Mill.

Through mutual friends on April 4, 1954, she was introduced to the handsome and humorous Ed Urban of Pittsville. They were married on October 9, 1954. They moved to Route 2 Pittsville, Wi to begin their 50 years together until his passing in 2004. Kathleen continued to work at Consolidated Papers until the birth of her first child Sheila in 1955. In 1963, she returned to work part-time as a surgical nurse for St. Joseph hospital until she accepted a position with Wood County Public Health where she would remain for over 30 years. She was passionate for public health, vaccinations, women’s health and well-being across generations, especially in rural communities.

Kathleen had a passion for learning and travel throughout her life. They traveled to see pen pals in England, to relatives in the Czech Republic to family trips up north to Alaska and Hawaii. After Ed’s passing, she enjoyed Rhodes Scholar trips to learn more from genealogy to quilting. Kathleen was an active member of the DAR and St. John’s Ladies Aid.

As a wife, mother and grandmother, Kathleen instilled values of family, faith, education, and hard work. Saturday morning pancake breakfasts, especially during deer hunting, were an institution. Soups on the stove, casseroles and the never empty cookie jar were always present. She was a meticulous sewer and quilter. Providing each of her 11 grandchildren a handmade quilt upon graduation from high school.

Throughout the years, she loved watching her children and grandchildren’s various music and sporting events. Trying to make as many as possible. She especially loved baseball, watching the birds out her window and working her flower garden until it became too much.

She is survived by her children and spouses: Sheila and John Smith, Williamston, MI; Ted and Jeanne Urban, Barnes, WI; Greg and Chrisanne Urban, Marshfield, WI; Bill and Dawn Urban, Marshfield, WI and Stacey and John Prodoehl, Kaukauna, WI. Grandchildren: Bryan Urban (Rachel), Dayton, OH; Ana Urban, Duluth, MN; Joey Smith, Minneapolis, MN; Michelle Smith, Williamston, MI; Charlotte Urban, La Crosse, WI; Julia Urban, Denver, CO; Grant Urban, Faribault, MN; Eve Prodoehl, Milwaukee, WI; Jack Prodoehl, Madison, WI; Lily Prodoehl, Eau Claire, WI; and Nick Urban, Eau Claire, WI.

Special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Frontida and Compassus, Kimberly, WI.

We invite you to join us in celebration of Kathleen Rae Urban at Buchanan/Rembs Funeral Home Friday May 19 from 4-8 pm and St. John’s Lutheran Church Pittsville, WI Saturday May 20^th from 10 am to 11 am with service at 11 am. This will be followed by lunch and interment at 3 pm at Mound Cemetery Pittsville, WI. Memorials: St. John Lutheran Church, Pittsville Community Library and Wisconsin Public Broadcasting.

Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com