Kathleen M. Hackbarth

Kathleen (Kathy) Marie Hackbarth, 74, passed away peacefully at Caraton Commons assisted living facility on July 25, 2025, after long battles with type 1 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. She was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin on September 13, 1950, to Harold and Marion (Lefebvre) Koch.

Kathy graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1968 and St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI) in 1972 with a BA in Art Education. She received her MS in Adaptive Art Education from St. Norbert College in 1996, and was the first person in the United States to receive that degree. Kathy had two children, Aaron in 1977 and Katie in 1979. In 1987 she married Eugene (Gene) Hackbarth.

Kathy served as an elementary school art teacher with Green Bay Public Schools for 36 years. She taught the longest at Martin Elementary on Green Bay's east side, where she became friends with many faculty members and students who maintained connections throughout her life. She was passionate about teaching art to elementary school children with special needs and in training art teachers to better meet the needs of children. Her murals in the schools will always be remembered by her students.

Her dedication to her students carried through to the summers, where she was instrumental in teaching art to children with disabilities at the Young Artist Workshop through St. Norbert College. Her creativity and love for her students made lifelong impacts on everyone she encountered. Kathy's own children would grow tired of running into her former students with her at the grocery store. The students would light up when they saw her, saying, "Mrs. H.! You were my favorite teacher and my life was changed because of you!".

Kathy also taught hundreds of older adults to make unique handbound books, journals, and boxes through the UWGB Lifelong Learning Institute. Some of her boxes and journals will be on display at her celebration of life at Ryan Funeral Home.

Survivors include Kathy's husband Eugene (Gene) Hackbarth, son Aaron Renier, daughter Katie Renier, grandson Grae Renala, siblings Ronald (Mary Grace) Crowley-Koch, Barbara Mann, Jerry (Diane Pleuss) Koch, Christine Kvalheim, and Jeanne (James) Barnier.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Marion Koch and sister Patricia Escobar.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff at Unity Hospice and Caraton Commons for the excellent care and support provided to Kathy during her illness.

Family and friends may call at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 N 10th St, De Pere, WI 54115 from 10am to 12pm on Saturday, August 2, 2025. A celebration of life will begin at 12pm and visitors are welcome to share memories of Kathy.