Kathrine M Hansen

Kathrine M. (Krueger) Hansen

Kathrine M. Hansen went home to Jesus on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at the age of 95.

She was born on April 18, 1930, the 7th child of Edward George Krueger and Johanna Emma Whilhelmina (Hank) Krueger. On March 5, 2026, Kathrine joined her siblings Warren Woodrow (Virginia) Krueger; John William (Stella) Krueger; Lillian May (Daniel) Otzelberger; Marie Jean (Frank) Grebe; Conrad Ervin Krueger; Caroline Helen (John) Makoutz; Ruth Eleanor (Edwin) Millard; Ernest Albert Krueger & Karl Edward Krueger and her husband, Gilbert, in heaven.

One sister remains, Eleanore Margaret Krueger, who is 93 and two sisters-in-law: Constance Krueger (also 93) and Joan Hansen (86).

Reverend Otto baptized Kathrine on May 18, 1930, in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, with her aunt, Marie Hank, and her uncle, Albert Hank, serving as sponsors. She was confirmed at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod – Milwaukee on the second day of April 1944. Kathrine graduated from First Central Evangelical Lutheran School in Milwaukee (Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church) on Thursday, June 8, 1944. She graduated from Steuben Junior High School on June 14th, 1945, and from Bay View High School in 1948.

As a teen, an interest in the neighbor boy developed. Gilbert Hansen enlisted in the Navy serving on the USS Leyte aircraft carrier during the Korean conflict. On August 22, 1953, at St Lucas Lutheran Church in Bay View, Kathrine Krueger became Kathrine Hansen.

Together they had three children – Dean (Kathleen) Hansen, Donna (Stephen) Sprink and Karen (Allen) Ovenshire. Dean, Donna & Karen were all baptized at St. Lucas, attended parochial school there and they were all confirmed at their ‘home’ church.

Kathrine found it quite an honor to be the godmother/sponsor for her nephew Edward Krueger and her niece Joyce Millard Schaefer.

Kathrine’s life was not an easy one. As a child she & her siblings lived through the Great Depression, the death of their father, WWII, the Korean Conflict and just when life was looking up - Gilbert died at 42 years old.

She was a homemaker left alone with three teenagers to feed and no assistance available. Kathrine went back to school and brushed up on skills that began in high school. Shortly, she found employment with Security Savings & Loan (later BMO Bank), where she worked until retirement.

Kathrine found enjoyment in traveling with friends, her sisters, and her children.

Through all of life’s ups & downs, her family continued to grow. Her grandchildren were some of her favorite people! She is survived by: Michelle O’Connell, Timothy (Debbie) Hansen, Cherie (Darren Pate) Salzman, Jenny (Zak) Wilson, Richard (Melissa Evans) Sprink and Megan (Chris Miles) Sprink along with her ‘bonus’ grandchildren Stephanie (Eric) Schultz, Shawn Salzman & Troy O’Connell. She was preceded in death by ‘bonus’ grandson Randall Sprink.

Just when she thought her heart was full... the great grandchildren began to arrive! Michael Salzman, Charlie O’Connell (deceased), Maxwell O’Connell, Cheyenne Salzman, Ella (Caleb Devens) Salzman, Ethan Hansen, Cian Salzman, Noah Hansen, Cooper Wilson, Lexi Wilson, Anya Salzman, Alastair Pate, Raven Pate, Stephen Schultz, Kyle (Nicole) Schultz and Tina (Eric) Zirbel. Her heart was broken when our sweet Charlie died, but once again she showed us how to carry on through life’s storm.

Just when she thought her heart couldn’t grow any more God sent two great-great granddaughters - Emmy and Fay Devens. Quite a crew for her to love & quite a few to love her back.

In addition to that long list of ‘immediate’ family, there are also many, many nieces & nephews who love her. Some were even kind enough to visit and/or help with her care through the last few years – there were many, but we would like to especially thank Jennifer (Jerome) Zink, Richard (Pam) Krueger, Joyce (Larry) Schaefer, Gary Krueger, Ashlynn Nadke, Bob Grebe and Debbie Denter. Additionally, Kathrine had some life-long friends! Marlene (Alan) Koehler with whom she stayed in touch, loved & cared about for more than 40 years!

She considered all her friends from Franklin Meadows Senior Apartments as her family, everyone was so friendly, warm and kind. She enjoyed her time living there. Kathrine was loved & will be missed by so many.

If you ask us about our mom, we’ll smile & say – she’s kind, she’s funny, she lights up every room. But if you listen closer... we’ll pause, try to swallow the lump in our throats and tell you – she’s truly the strongest soul we’ve ever known. She never asked the world to notice her pain or the trials she faced, she just smiled and kept the family breathing. When we broke, she glued us back with prayers & purposeful intent. We’ve watched her carry storms in silence, wipe her own tears when no one was watching and rise every time life tried to break her.

She was not just our mom

She was our strength

She was our safe place

She was our everything

Losing our mother/grandmother/great grandmother/great-great grandmother changes our life in a way nothing else ever can, no matter how old you are or how old she became - she was our first comfort, our first friend and the person whose love felt like home.

We will never truly stop missing her. Instead, we hope to live her example of caring on after our Dad, her siblings, Charlie & grand-nephew Zach died. We will slowly learn how to live with the huge gap she left behind.

Even though she is no longer here, her love stays with us – in our memories, in our heart, and in the quiet moments when we wish we could hear her voice again.

Until the day comes that we meet again, we will carry her love in every step we take and try to live the life you & Jesus taught us to live – with kindness, strength and a full heart. Keep a place for us in your arms Mom, because we know that one day we will find you again.

The celebration of the life of Kathrine M. Hansen will be held Monday, March 16, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1936 Emery Street East Troy, Wisconsin.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Lunch to follow in the church fellowship hall. Internment will be at 2:30 p.m. at Highland Memorial Park 14875 W Greenfield Ave New Berlin, WI.

For anyone wishing to attend the internment, meet at Highland Memorial office at 2:30 p.m. from there we will proceed together to the grave site. There will be no procession from the church.

Kathrine’s family would like to take a moment to thank the Aurora Hospice Burlington team for their care and support - especially Janay, Salina, Sara & Greg and Aurora Palliative Care team – especially Jim Chapman & Lorri; Dr. Nicholas Tosi; Dr. Andrew Marso & the Neurology Team at Ascension – St. Francis Hospital especially Dr. Khatri, Scott & Anna and so many others that contributed to her care.

If desired, memorials could be made in memory of mom to the Healthwell Foundation.org who helped fund her very expensive Parkinson’s medications. Choose Parkinson’s Disease under ‘purpose’.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for teaching us about the love of Jesus Christ and for being our guiding light. Your love and support have shaped us into who we are today. We are so grateful for every moment we’ve shared. We love you more than words can say.

Dean, Kathy, Donna, Steve & Karen