Photo courtesy of HILDEBRAND - RUSS FUNERAL HOME - Rhinelander
Jan 15, 1949 - Sep 8, 2021
I am so sorry for your family’s loss. I didn’t know Karen , but may have met her at the family reunion many years ago. I’m from the Michigan side of the Kitze family. Arthur Kitze was my father-in-law.
February 26,2023 Brownstown MI
Pat Kitze
Pat Kitze
February 26, 2023 | Brownstown, MI | Family
I am sorry for your family’s loss. As I was reading an old issue of the Owen paper the name Kitze caught my eye. I graduated fro RHS in 1979 and saw Mike and Karen were teachers there at that time. The obituary touched my heart.
Janet Stenstrom-Mueller
November 17, 2021 | Dorchester, WI | Student
I appreciate the dedication you had to ensure all students had the opportunity learn and thrive in your classes. I continue to share this value with everything I do. Prayers to the Kitze family.
Harvey Verhaegen
September 27, 2021 | Maricopa, AZ | Student
Mike, I’m so sorry to hear of your family’s loss.
Terry Oxley
September 18, 2021 | Bloomsburg, PA | Coworker
Dear Mike and Family,
My deepest sympathy to you and your family on the loss of Karen. I was a member of the class of 1974. When Karen and you arrived at RHS you injected such positivity into the school. You both were very kind and caring which many students really appreciated. You were both exemplary educators. My God grant you the strength to carry on.
Rich Phelan
September 16, 2021 | Arvada, CO | Student
Cluster of 50 Memorial Trees
With love
September 15, 2021 | Denver, CO
Karen and Molly by the campfire
We all loved her and will forever miss her hospitality.
Roger Skrypczak
September 15, 2021 | Appleton, WI | Friend
Mike & Family, I was shocked to see Karen's obituary in today's paper. I am so very sorry for your loss. Karen was a caring teacher who touched many lives. My sincere sympathy. Jackie
Jackie Anderson
September 14, 2021 | Eagle Rivere, WI | Coworker
We are deeply saddened by Karen's passing, a wonderful teacher and supporter of ArtStart and RHS programs. Our thoughts are with Mike, Megan, Erica and David at this time.
Daryl Youngstrum
September 14, 2021 | Rhinelander, WI | Friend
Karen B. Kitze
1949 ~ 2021
Age ~ 72
Karen B Kitze, age 72, of Rhinelander, died on September 8th.
She was born on January 15, 1949 to Herman and Dorothy Rabska in Withee, WI.
Karen is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Michael J. Kitze, her children; Megan Kitze-Ward (Matt Ward), Erica Saielli (Matthew Saielli) and David Kitze, her grandchildren; Cali Ward and Maxwell Ward, her brothers; Greg Rabska (Candy) and Michael Rabska, and her sister; Molly Rabska-Emmerich.
She is preceded in death by her parents; Herman and Dorothy (Marking) Rabska.
Karen’s legacy though goes far beyond immediate family. Karen’s motto was to build friends like family and merge the two together, so she is survived by many more. Her legacy extends to the entire Rabska family, the entire Kitze family, her UW-River Falls college friends, Lake Superior Crew, the Whiners, the staff and students of RHS who she taught and led for 30+ years, the League of Women Voters, the Master Gardeners and so many more. Karen was a matriarch to many. She taught her students with passion and empowered everyone around her in so many ways - to live purely in the moment, speak up for what was right, and love fiercely. Her greatest quality though was her sincere curiosity and ability to listen and learn and make you feel like you were the most important one in the room. She had a genuine interest in learning from others and also sharing her love of gardening, music, art and politics. To know her was to know the deepest love on earth. The family will hold a small bonfire to honor her legacy, as her favorite thing to do was sit with her family around a fire overlooking the lake.
If you would like to honor and continue Karen’s legacy, the family asks for donations to The League of Women Voters of the Northwoods, Northwoods Community Garden, ArtStart or the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry as she would want their work to continue.
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