Lake Forest Obituary: Kathleen Hattie (Hanseter) Hopfinger

The following obituary is courtesy of Wenban Funeral Home.

Kathleen Hattie (Hanseter) Hopfinger, age 71, passed away Sept. 9, 2015, peacefully at her home in Lake Forest, Ill.

She was born Oct. 25, 1943, in Oshkosh, Wis., to Joseph and Henrietta Hanseter. The youngest of three children, Kathleen enjoyed a home full of pets, including cats, dogs and even a monkey. She met her future husband, Dr. Anton (Tony) Hopfinger, while the two were still in grade school. They married Aug. 13, 1966, in Oshkosh. After graduating from Lourdes High School in Oshkosh in 1962, she enrolled in the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1965. As a registered nurse, she began her career in surgical nursing, then shifting to psychiatric nursing for several years at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, where she, her husband and family lived until 1981. After moving to Lake Forest, Ill., that same year, she continued her career as a hospice nurse and volunteer at Lake Forest Hospital. All of these experiences prepared her for perhaps her most meaningful role: leader and developer of outreach programs at her parish, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where she served the elderly and those seeking spiritual and emotional support. Those programs, Ministry of Care and Helping Hands, were her focus for many years, even after she stepped down as principal coordinator. Kathleen often said that her experience of helping hundreds of people through hospice and these parish programs provided her a humbling perspective on life’s challenges and an appreciation for the dignity with which others dealt with their personal adversities. She truly felt blessed with the most loving of families and all of the wonderful friendships spanning her lifetime. For her family and friends, they will miss her gifts of unconditional love and caring. Kathleen had many interests, including writing poetry, collecting dolls, birding and traveling. Some of her most treasured memories came from visiting new states and countries with her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Henrietta Hanseter; brother John Hanseter; father-in-law and mother-in-law Tony and LaVerne Hopfinger; and brother-in-law Glen Dedow.

She is survived by her husband of more than 49 years and the love of her life, Tony; sons Tim, Tony Jr. and Todd, daughter-in-laws Heidi (Tim) and Kylea (Tony Jr.); and granddaughters Julia and Grace (Tim and Heidi). She is also survived by her sister Mary Ann Dedow, sisters-in-law Debra Perlewitz and Susan Geffers, and brother-in-law Peter Geffers, as well as her nieces and nephews Noreen Smith, David Koene, Pierce Geffers, Desiree Geffers, Jeff Perlewitz, Joe Perlewitz, Michelle Wickman and Cheri Perez, along with many other wonderful relatives and friends.

A mass of Christian burial is scheduled for 11:00 am, on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lake Forest, Ill., the family will meet friends from 9:00 to 11:00 am prior to the service at the church to celebrate her life. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, she and her family ask that donations be made to charities or individuals of your choice.