On May 10, 2026, Kathy passed away at the age of 76. She was reunited with her soulmate, Dan Schmitt, and her parents, Louis and Deloras Ruden.

Family is invited to gather at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Rd, on Thursday, May 14, at 1:00 p.m. A prayer service will follow at 2:00 p.m., with private entombment afterward at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Friends and family are all invited to celebrate Kathy’s life that evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Happy’s Place, 2323 Rockdale Rd.

Kathy grew up in Holy Cross with her six siblings on Main Street and attended Leo High School. She was resilient and bold, qualities that became especially clear when, at just 16 years old, she had her leg amputated after being diagnosed with bone cancer. After spending months in rehabilitation, Kathy returned to high school, continued forward with strength and determination, and later married Dan, in 1971.

Together, Kathy and Dan raised their four children on their farm in Rickardsville. Kathy worked as a Proofreader for over 20 years, and later as a Mutuel at the Dog Track.  She spent countless hours tending to her flower beds on the farm.  In the evening, she loved playing BINGO or watching Murder, She Wrote, while drinking RC Cola. In her later years, she enjoyed trips to the Dog Track to play Keno, watching NFL football, traveling to Branson, and getting together for Euchre tournaments.

But more than anything, Kathy loved her family. She loved being called GiGi by her great-grandchildren, a title she wore proudly.  She cherished time with her grandchildren, especially on Christmas Eve, when everyone came together for over nine hours to celebrate her favorite holiday. Family was the most important thing to Kathy, and to say she was proud of hers is an understatement.  Her expectations were high, and her opinion was never withheld, but her love and loyalty was always unconditional.

Kathy is survived by her four children: Jenny (Dave) Kettering, Sarah (Mark) Gigous, Josh (Jayna) Schmitt, and Callie (Ben) Bartels; her sixteen grandchildren, Stephen (Paula), Hailey (Trevor), Gabrielle (Tanner), Ben (Becca), Hunter (Tatum), Collin, Aleece, Casey, Leah, Boen, Hazel, Aubrey, Miles, Brecken, Dawson, and Delilah; and her five great-grandchildren, Millie, Mabel, Sylvie, Marnie, and Ellis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a place that was very special to Kathy and one she generously supported in furtherance of children’s cancer research.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff at Ennoble Manor, Dr. Gina Moran, and Hospice of Dubuque, for their ongoing care of mom.