Joan M. Kabat

Kabat, Joan M.

Joan M. Kabat, 81, passed away peacefully December 26, 2012 in Florida. Joan was born in Black Creek, Wisconsin on January 13, 1931 to Frank and Margaret (Van Treeck) Gerritts. She married Lee Kabat May 24, 1942 and he was the love of her life. They had known each other for 75 years and had celebrated 60 years of marriage last summer. She was originally from Wisconsin but spent the last 21 winters as a resident of The Villages in Florida and summers in Waupaca

Joan is survived by her husband, Lee; one son, Dan (Colleen) Kabat, and two daughters, Pat (Jeff) Fletcher, and Julie (Jeff) Layer, her grandsons Brent (Rebecca) Kabat (their daughter, Lucy), and Brian (Kindle) Kabat, and her granddaughters Leah Fletcher, Jessica Fletcher, Holly Layer and Gretchen Layer.

She is also survived by one brother, Russ (Dorothy) Gerritts, and four sisters; Ruth Oudenhoven, Joyce Konkle, Janice (Tom) Thyes and Carol Eastman. She is further survived by her loving brother-in-law, Fr. Daniel F. Kabat, a retired Capuchin priest.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, four infant children and two brothers, Vernon and Ronald Gerritts.

She was a member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Waupaca, Wisconsin and St. Timothy Catholic Church in The Villages, Florida. She was an avid volunteer at her churches. She enjoyed golfing, bridge, mahjong and playing cards with friends and loved ones.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Waupaca, Wisconsin, on Saturday, January 12, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Memorial Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name.