Amy Ellen Oudenhoven

Amy Ellen (Kabat) Oudenhoven, age 65, passed away peacefully at home in Plover on September 7, 2023, after a protracted decline due to Lyme Disease.
Amy was born to Lawrence and Bertha Kabat, their sixth surviving child, in Green Bay, WI, on February 28, 1958. She spent many childhood days in Kabat's Shoe Store, helping with small tasks at the family business and instilling in her a love of walking barefoot as much as possible, much to the chagrin of her father. Her fond childhood memories included excitedly using her nickel "paycheck" to get candy at the local store, the family dog Sam - who was still an honorary member of the Packer Family Gameday Pool decades later, summers spent at the cottage on the bay by Dyckesville and seeing her parent's daily routines and praying together. A challenging high school math class led to informal tutoring sessions with her good friend Jill's older brother, Gary. Amy and Gary started dating, maintaining a long-distance relationship while Amy was earning her degree in nursing in Marshfield, WI and Gary was at Michigan Tech. On May 9, 1981, Gary and Amy were married and moved to La Crosse, WI. There they bought their first home and welcomed their first two children, Tim and Dan. The love they had for each other poured out of their home and into the hearts of many life-long friends and neighbors. Amy decided to stay at home to raise their children and Gary's job change moved them back closer to family in De Pere, WI, where their daughter Tracey was born. Gary's work then moved them to Peshtigo, WI, where the small Catholic school needed a librarian: Amy gladly volunteered and spent many summer mornings getting the library clean and ready for the school year while her kids played in the gymnasium. During the school year, you would find Amy reading stories to dozens of school children enthralled at her feet.
A final job change for Gary brought the family to Stevens Point, WI, and Amy helped balance having kids in 2-3 different schools and settling into their home, often in the midst of remodeling. She truly cherished these years, always saying she enjoyed nothing more than raising her kids. In 2004, once the boys were in college and Tracey in high school, Amy went back to work part-time at the Stevens Point Public Library. At this time, she began to have health issues that eventually caused her to quit a job she loved. Lyme Disease was suspected, but multiple negative tests led doctors to not treat her developing symptoms. Her health continued to deteriorate with no diagnosis or explanation until in 2016, she was diagnosed with a less common strain of Lyme Disease, whose symptoms perfectly matched her own. Gary and Amy sought many treatments to try to improve Amy's health, but the Lyme Disease had already caused too much damage.
Amy will be remembered for many things. Her fierce and devoted enthusiasm for the Green Bay Packers, which included popcorn and cherry cokes for game day enjoyment. Her creativity, with abundant crocheted slippers and intricately beaded Christmas ornaments. Her love of the Catholic faith especially stirred by the blossoming priestly vocation of her eldest son. This love led her to fervent reading about the faith and a deep, daily prayer life that sustained her family and so many others on her list of prayer intentions, both living and deceased. And lastly, how proud she was of her children - with her two sons both ordained Catholic priests and her daughter who worked so hard to get her PHD in Chemistry at UW Madison that led to a career in their Chemistry Department. And lastly that she is married to Amy's "favorite son-in-law". Up until the end, she never tired of hearing about her kids' days and offered constant, loving support.
Amy is survived by her husband, Gary, and her three children, Fr. Tim Oudenhoven (pastor of St. Bernard-Abbotsford and St. Louis-Dorchester), Fr. Dan Oudenhoven (pastor of Newman Parish-Eau Claire), and Tracey (Tom) Reitz (Madison). She is also survived by six siblings: Janet Sawyer, Larry (Cathy) Kabat, Fr. Bob Kabat, Sr. Mary Kabat, Chuck (Linda) Kabat, and Anne (Kevin) Scholz. She is survived by members of Gary's family: mother-in-law Gloria Oudenhoven and sisters-in-law Jill (John) Klasen, Joy (Ray) Westein, Jane Aubry, and Julie (Randy) Van Straten. She will also be remembered by nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her infant sister Joanne, her father-in-law Norb Oudenhoven, and brother-in-law Buzz Sawyer.
A wake will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at St. Bronislava Catholic Church, 3200 Plover Road, Plover, with a Rosary prayed in the church at 7:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at St. Bronislava Church. Visitation will precede the Mass from 9:30 - 11:00 am on Wednesday at St. Bronislava Church. Burial will follow the Mass at St. Bronislava Cemetery. All are welcome to gather for a luncheon following the Mass at St. Bronislava Church. The Pisarski Community Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name to First Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, 101 Division St. North, Stevens Point, WI 54481. Amy had a great devotion to praying for her deceased loved ones, which she did twice a week, offering each Hail Mary of an ever-lengthening Rosary for her family and friends she lost in this life. So most importantly, please remember Amy in prayer.
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