Kathleen M. “Kathy” Swope, 74, of Merrill, passed away Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at Artisan Assisted Living, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice. She was born July, 16, 1940, in Merrill, WI to the late George and Lisetta (Wiesman) Bohman. She married Kermit Swope in 1960, he preceded her in death in 1992.
Kathleen attended school in Merrill. She was retired from Wire Products where she was a welder, and had previously worked at Eddy’s Bakery, Nelson’s Grocery Store and Okanawa Bean Factory. Kathleen enjoyed collecting ducks. She also loved her wiener dogs “Cricket” and “Susie”, as well as her cat “Buffy”. Kathleen attended Northwoods Vineyard Church in Tomahawk. She enjoyed doing puzzles, cross-word puzzles, and loved to shop at thrift shops and garage sales. Family was most important to Kathleen. She enjoyed visiting with her family, going on camping trips with them, and watching her grandkids on the rides at Bay Beach.
Kathleen is survived by three daughters; Christine Benson, of Merrill, Geraldine (John) Moore, of Gwinn, MI, and Ronda (William) Brietzke, of Merrill; One son: Jeffrey Swope, of Tomahawk; 12 grandchildren: Cindy (James) Cook, of Westville, FL, Norman Benson, of Merrill, Corey Spoehr, of Tomahawk, Shannon Burdick, of Gwinn, MI, Cody Kaehne, of Merrill, Cheyanne (John) Wiebe, of Tomahawk, Robert (Jerri) Brietzke, Ashley (Matthew) Dunlop, Kimberly (Andrew) Nehrbass, all of Merrill, Jennifer (Daniel) Woodard, of Fairbanks, AK, Melissa Callahan of Tomahawk, and Jesse Welch of Wausau; 15 great grandchildren: Kristin, Jock, Prisella, Melissa, Destiny, Damion, Ramille, Karmen, Amber, Christopher, Alissa, Anna, Arianna, Wyatt, and Emma; 4 great, great grandchildren: MaKenzie, Mayce, Raelynn, and Mathew; 2 sisters: Lois Bruns, of New Mexico and Mary Bohman; One niece, Lisa Reese; 2 nephews; Michael (Audra) and Daniel Bohman; Two great nephews: Kyle and Austin Bohman, and two great nieces: Makayla and Mandy Bohman. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Kermit, 2 sons: Steven and Robert Swope, daughter Barbara Welch, granddaughter Tanya Welch, and great niece Danielle Pophal.
A private family gathering and inurnment will be held at a later date. Waid Funeral Home of Merrill is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.waidfuneral.com.