Kathryn A. Basler

Kathryn Ann Basler, age 72, passed away in the early morning of February 14th at her home after succumbing to cancer. Kathy is survived by her loving husband, Mike; daughters, Kelly (Paul) Marks, Kerry (Todd) Rankin, and Kourtney Basler; grandson, Aiden Rankin; mother, Betty Weckwerth; and brother, Arthur Weckwerth, along with numerous other family members and loved ones. Kathy is preceded in death by her father, Eugene Weckwerth.

Kathy was born on June 29, 1951 in Milwaukee to Eugene and Betty (Schultz) Weckwerth who raised her in Wauwatosa. Growing up, her favorite person in the world was her Grandma Kate. Spending summers at her house in Glidden, WI were some of her happiest memories and Kathy would tell stories about her time there for the rest of her life. The love, protection and guidance that Kate gave her inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others and she pursued that passion by going to college to be a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) attending college at Mount Mary and later Fox Valley Tech. While she was completing her schooling she met Mike Basler, a young Vietnam Veteran; they had their first date at a New Year’s Eve party in 1972 and they were married before the next new year came. The wedding band that she wore for the next 50 years was inscribed “Happy New Year, I Love You”. Just over two years after they got married Mike and Kathy welcomed their first daughter, Kelly Michelle into the world. Two and half years later they had Kerry Colleen and then, after another two and a half years came their special little girl Kourtney Corinne.

Kathy spent years being a full-time mother and a full-time COTA at Mercy Medical in Oshkosh, but once there were three little girls running around their house Kathy knew she would have to give up her job to make sure she was always there for her daughters. As a mother (and a wife, and a friend) Kathy was fiercely loyal, bottomlessly compassionate and tenaciously protective. Once you were in Kathy’s "family" you never had to worry about having a ear to bend about your problems, a shoulder to cry on or a defender to go to battle for you. But her true love language was cooking, and she was never more happy then when she could watch someone enjoy a meal that she had prepared for them. She always said that, “If you leave my house hungry it’s your own damn fault!”. Kathy also loved being a grandmother to her only grandchild, whom she adored spoiling rotten. For those of you who knew her well, know that her three biggest loves in life were God, her family and her pets. Thank you Kathy for being there for all of us that loved you. We know that you will be holding each of our hands as we continue through this life without you.

The family would like to thank everyone of Kathy’s friends and family members that stayed in constant contact with her until the end even though she was too ill for visitors. Also, a special thanks to her hospice caregivers: Angie H and Angela C who treated her with such kind compassion and helped her exit this world with as much dignity as was possible.

Cremation has taken place and a private burial will be held by the family, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. Kathy did not want a service, so please celebrate her life in whatever way each of you thinks is the most befitting of this remarkable woman. We suggest maybe putting on your favorite Patsy Cline record the next time you’re watching a beautiful sunset. 

Kathy and Mike never met a stray animal that they didn’t fall in love with so, if you wish, please make a donation to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society in Kathy’s honor. 

One thing that many people didn’t know about Kathy is that she loved writing. In her life she wrote innumerable short stories, and poems, along with two unpublished novels. Kathy would like to leave us all with this thought:

Weep not for me

I hear your hearts breaking

Heaven was calling and I had to leave

So until we meet again 

Know that I am watching over you

Try not to be sad for I am at peace