Kathleen Saewert

Kathleen E. Saewert, 77, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, February 11, 2021, at her home in Boyd, WI. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 20th, at 11:00 AM at Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon, IA, with Fr. John Moser officiating. Burial will be at Lansing Ridge Cemetery, rural Lansing. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday at Martin-Grau Funeral Home. In consideration of concerns regarding Covid-19, social distancing and wearing of masks is encouraged.

Kathleen Elizabeth Saewert was born December 1, 1943, in Cheyenne, WY, the daughter of Earl Joseph and Marie Lavaun (Kelly) Kelly. When she was a young child, Kathleen's family moved to the Wexford area of Allamakee County, IA, where she attended Wexford and Harpers Ferry schools. Besides being a homemaker, Kathleen also worked for 37 years at Northern Engraving in Waukon, IA. On September 25, 1965, she married Willis Carl Saewert Sr. in Caledonia, MN, and they lived in Churchtown for a few years before moving to Waukon. About seven years ago, Kathleen moved to Boyd, WI, to be closer to her daughter.

Kathleen loved to cook, bake, and read cookbooks; she was also a self-appointed "food critic" of other people's cooking. She enjoyed listening to old, twangy country-western music, watching the Hallmark Channel and John Wayne movies, and completing jigsaw and crossword puzzles. Mostly, she deeply loved her family and all her fur-grandbabies.

She is survived by her two children: Dawn (John) Herrick of Boyd, WI, and Willis "Bill" Jr. (Dawn Roese) of Waukon; grandchildren: Elizabeth (Carleton Grasty) Saewert of Woodbury, MN, Marie (Donny) Chase of Dorchester, IA, Louissa and Kristen Schultz, both of Minneapolis, MN, Samantha (Travis) Kramschuster, and Mike and Matt Herrick, all of Boyd, WI; great- grandchildren: Raina (Ethan Atkinson) Chase, Lydia Chase, and Annelysse, Emilee, Cooper, and Cannon Kramschuster; her brother John Kelly of Spring Grove, IL; two sisters: Margaret Slaughter and Pamela Croyle, both of Waukon; and stepsister-in-law Lorraine Johnson of Waukon; and many nieces and nephews.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather Norris Johnson; husband Willis in 1990; a sister Theresa Leikvold; stepbrother Walter Johnson; sister-in-law Beverly Kelly; and two brothers-in-law: Lloyd Leikvold and Bill Slaughter.

Honorary casketbearers are Kathleen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Kevin and Mike Johnson, Bo Schellhammer, Donny Chase, Eric Rowan, Lyle Leikvold, Ethan Atkinson, and Carleton Grasty.