Kathleen M. McCaskill

ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) finally lost its 4 ½ year battle with my precious wife Kathy.
Kathy made her final journey from "life to life" Monday November 7, 7:07 pm.
She is preceded in death by her father Gerald Hunter, her mother Regina Hunter (Dolan), Her sister Ruth Heffron, Ruth's husband Dave and their son Michael. Kathy is also preceded in death by grandson Buck William Thompson.
She is survived by her husband Bill McCaskill (me) and our dog "Millie."
She is survived by her siblings, brother Bill (Mary) Hunter, brother Robert Hunter and sister Jane (Ben) Eveland. She is also survived by her four amazing children, eight fabulous grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Kathy's life will be held on Saturday (December 3, 2022) at New Life Community Church, 2323 Eastern Ave, Plymouth, WI, 53073. Visitation will take place from 12:00-4:00pm with services taking place at 4:30pm, and a meal to follow.
Kathy's life:
To Quote "The Last Samurai" loosely, "I will not tell you how she died, I will tell you how she lived."
Kathy was born, May 16, 1954 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. She grew up "wild and strong" just north of Dodgeville on the small family farm in beautiful "Wyoming Valley" Wisconsin.
Kath attended St John's Elementary and River Valley High School (where we met in chorus!), both in Spring Green, Wisconsin.After high school Kathy worked at Rayovac in Madison, we were married in 1975, and moved to St Paul with my veterinary school years where she worked for the University of Minnesota.
After years as a stay-at-home mom and evening receptionist for vet clinics when I was on emergency call, she very much enjoyed being a 4-K teachers Aid in Plymouth, Wisconsin.
In 2003 Kathy was my ministry partner in church start-up work with Converge as we transitioned from vet work to bi-vocational ministry with a first church plant (New Life Community Church) in Plymouth Wi.
We were each other's "best friend" and enjoyed so many things together and as a family nature, biking (she was a medal winning mountain bike racer, really), skiing, family camping, trips to Alaska and Maui, but mostly just being with her family she loved so dearly. She was a woman of tireless action!
And she leaves such a legacy
Kathy was an adorable, freckled faced tiny little lady who was amazingly "big" in character, love, devotion, faith, focus, determination I could go on and on, but, honestly, she was truly an exceptional human being.
People like her leave a large "space" when they are gone. Kathy left a very large empty space.
But may I say, at the same time her life and legacy are such a challenge for those she impacted to fill that void, because the world needs people like her.
When I have reviewed Kathy's life, what she meant to so many, what she meant to me and the gift of so many conversations during her struggle with ALS, I have been drawn to Paul's words to the Philippians
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:20,21
My precious Kathy left this world with no regrets, everything that needed saying, said, and nothing left here to tug her to stay, save, perhaps, a little more time with those she loved.
There was a standing ovation as she entered heaven.
The challenge for all who would be wise to imitate her life of faith, character and love?
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." - Philippians 1:27
It is the world's loss and heaven's gain that she is gone.
Rest in peace, my dear little Irish sweetheart.
Bill