Kay A. Bilke

Kay A. Bilke, age 73, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI surrounded by her family. She was born to Harold and Eleanor (Hopp) Biel on February 6, 1947 in Beaver Dam, WI. Kay was the first born of 6 children and their only daughter. She graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1964 and moved to Milwaukee, WI for a short time to work as a stenographer for the Wisconsin Unemployment Compensation Department. Kay then moved back to Beaver Dam, WI where she fell in love with Warren R. Bilke and the two were married at St. Michael's Catholic Church on March 11, 1967. Warren was deployed in April of 1967 to Vietnam. Kay lived with her parents and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital until she moved to Alexandria, Virginia in 1968 while Warren finished his service with the U.S. Army. Warren and Kay moved back to Beaver Dam, WI where she started working for Dodge County as an administrative assistant in 1968 until the time of her retirement in 2010. They had their first daughter, Jennifer, in 1970, and their second daughter, Jessica, in 1973. Kay enjoyed bowling, playing women's softball until the age of 40, crocheting, reading, shopping, going to casinos, spending time with her family and friends, watching both tennis and cooking shows on television, and attending her grandchildren's sporting events and extracurricular activities. She loved her family dearly and with all her heart. Kay is survived by her husband Warren R. Bilke, her two daughters; Jennifer (Mike) Ziehme, Jessica (Travis) Hudson, and her five grandchildren; Derek Ziehme (special friend Lauren Vos), Vanessa Ziehme (special friend Ryan Kexel), Trever Hudson, Thomas Hudson, Ellie Hudson, and her special "granddog" Jack. She is also survived by her 5 brothers; David (Charlotte) Biel, Dean Biel, Dick Biel, Dale (Marcia) Biel, and Dennis Biel (Diana Manegold). She is also survived by her Uncle Vernon and Aunt Lois Biel, who were very dear to her heart. Kay is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law; Katie Freber (Steve Diederich), Darlene (Peter) Abler, David Bilke, Cindy Bilke (Denny Bruesch), Kelly (Linda) Bilke, and Roxanne (David) Hess. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and friends. Kay was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents, her father and mother Harold and Eleanor Biel, her father and mother-in-law Warren and Maxine Bilke, a sister-in-law, Sherri Bilke, aunts and uncles, her special cousin Diane Cuff, her niece Nichole Abler, nephew Michael Quinn, and other friends. A celebration of Kay's life will occur on her 74th birthday, February 6, 2021 at Chapel of the Archangels in Beaver Dam, WI. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the kind and compassionate ICU doctors and nurses at Aurora Sinai Medical Center and also her family doctor of many years Dr. Sharon Haase.