Kathryn R. Farrey

Kathryn R. Farrey, age 88, on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, peacefully passed away, as she took Jesus‘ Hand and her first breath in Heaven, at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster. We look forward to seeing our beloved once again and until then we celebrate Kathryn’s beautiful well-lived life. She was born in Cuba City on June 5, 1932 to Francis and Helen (Miller) Kaufman. After graduating in 1950 from Cuba City High, Kathryn furthered her education at Platteville Normal School. There she earned her Rural Education Teaching Certificate. She enjoyed her years teaching at two rural schools: Willow Creek and Hurricane and the United Methodist Preschool. On November 22, 1952, Katheryn married the love of her life, Wayne Farrey at Lancaster First Baptist Church and raised six children. Kathryn was an active member of Calvary Community Church for years and thoroughly enjoyed serving God in a variety of capacities from teaching to hospitality. Some of Kathryn‘s remarkable and memorable traits are the way she unwaveringly loved and served God through unconditionally accepting and selflessly serving those around her. She supported nonprofit organizations that, as she would say, “gave her a way to give the love of Jesus to the world desperately needing God and his son Jesus Christ." Kathryn loved spending time with her family, and going to all her grandchildren‘s sporting events/school activities. Kathryn’s greatest delight was found in “Kathryn’s Kids”: loving, supporting, encouraging, and caring for her children (for 65 years), grandchildren and countless home daycare children for 35 years. Kathryn lived to the fullest giving her family, friends, and community many invaluable gifts of time, kindness and care because whenever there was an opportunity, Kathryn wanted to help. Another memorable trait was her many fun expressions that filled a room with laughter. Some favorites are “Good night shirt in the swamp“ and “don’t flip your lid“. Lastly a significant trait was her innate gift to talk with and welcome friends. It was evident, no one was a stranger to Kathryn, as she was naturally in tune with needs of others, then quick to offer a home-cooked three-course meal or a room for however long needed. From her Raspberry Dream Salad, Butterfinger dessert to her Heavenly Swiss Steak and California Chicken Casserole, she made certain no one went hungry or needed a place for a good night’s rest. As Kathryn lived out her heart of gold and generosity she lived as if to say, “My home is your home, my table is your table.” Also, someone was heard saying, “I always thought Kathryn was “Lancaster’s Grandma”. What a beautiful legacy she undoubtedly gave her family and community. They are forever grateful and honored to be Katheryn’s kids, family, and friends.
Survivors include her loving husband Wayne; their children: Greg, Jeff (Lynn), Tim (Jane) Farrey, Rhonda (Doug) DiBell, David (Cathy) Farrey, and Becky (David) Bannach; 16 grandchildren; 6 great grandsons, a brother, Melvin (Margaret) Kaufman; other relatives and many friends.
In addition to her parents, Kathryn was preceded in death by her siblings: Glenn, William, and Virginia Kaufman.
Private family funeral services will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster with Reverend Mark Dieter officiating. Private family burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Kathryn R. Farrey Memorial Fund has been established.
The family wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to all the physicians and staff at Grant Regional Health Center for the excellent care and kindness Kathryn received this past week.