Katherine "Kathy" Zich

Katherine "Kathy" Zich, 82, passed away Tuesday, January 23, 2024 in her home. She writes, “I lost my battle with cancer today, but I look forward to be in God’s presence.” She was born to the late Robert and Norine Cormier on Saturday, November 8, 1941 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Kathy attended West High School and upon graduation eventually started working at Green Bay Packaging where she met her husband of 26 years, Donald Zich. Together they lived in Howard raising three children: Steve, Kris, and Patti. Kathy and Don had two other children, Mary and David, who preceded her in death. Mary and David have always remained in their hearts and prayers. Kathy and her family enjoyed weekends up at her parents Oak Ridge Campground in Post Lake, Wisconsin, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling as the Oak Ridge Rumblers. Their happy Wisconsin lifestyle included her brother Robert’s family as well. He was married to Barb and they had three children: Rob, Sheileen, and Cheryl. The time Kathy and Don were together were happy spending all their leisure time and all holidays with family either at their home, their parents’ homes, at Bob and Barb’s, or up at the campground. Getting together meant playing cards, mostly poker, and just enjoying being together. After her children were grown, she and Don divorced.

After her brother and father passed away, she and her mother, Norine, enjoyed taking trips together to Wisconsin’s casinos playing slots and trying to win at Bingo. She got to spend a lot of time with her mother, eventually taking care of her for several years prior to her death.

Kathy says she had an “average” life. She was loved not only by her family, but she also had “..many dear friends, half of whom I chummed with since first grade.”

Kathy had many talents and one was working with people. She had a beautiful smile! She worked as a nursing assistant at St. Mary’s Hospital including the emergency room. She then worked in a doctor’s office. Kathy also worked for a bus tour company booking tours and hosting trips. She worked for a local hotel as a banquet coordinator, and her last job was as a bank teller. While working at the bank, she met Eugene "Gene" VandenBoomen and the two shared their lives together for the next 20 years.

Her children are thankful for the precious time they were able to spend with her prior to her death. She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Cormier, her mother, Norine Cormier, two children, Mary and David, her brother, Robert Cormier, and her significant other, Eugene VandenBoomen. She leaves behind her son, Steven (Lynn) Zich; daughters, Kristine (William) Greb and Patricia Zich (Mark Smeester) and their father Don (Barb) Zich. She is also blessed with four grandchildren: Alex (Hope), Jeremy, Tyler, and Josephine; a great-grandson, August.

Visitation will be held at St. Willebrord Parish (209 S. Adams St., Green Bay, WI), Monday, January 29, 2024 from 9 to 10:30 AM. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM with Fr. Andy Cribben, O. Praem, celebrant. Kathy will be inurned in the mausoleum at Fort Howard Memorial Park. Kathy’s favorite flowers are pink carnations.

The family would like to extend a thank you to Unity Hospice and all their nurses, Pastor Scott, CNA Sue and the family counselor Amy for all your care, comfort and support that was given to Kathy and the family.