Riemenapp, Kathi J.

Kathi J. Riemenapp (Lipska), age 65, of Dodgeville, died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville.

Kathi Joan Riemenapp was the most loving and caring woman that you would ever meet. Her faith, family, and friends were everything to her. When she walked into a room, you would know she was there with her bright smile, electric energy, and infectious laugh. She was kind, thoughtful, energetic, warm hearted and so loving. When talking with her you felt understood, loved, cared for, and that she was always in your corner. She was known as Kathi, Kate, Wife, Mom, Sister, Aunt, Friend, GamGam, and Miss Mary’s Mom.

Kathi was born in Dodgeville, to her parents Mary Ann and Melvin (Sunny) Lipska. She was the youngest of seven siblings. She grew up on her family's Lipska Dairy Farm in Dodgeville and attended St.Joseph's as a child, then graduated Dodgeville High school with high honors. After attending UW Platteville, she lived in California enjoying the sun, ocean, dancing, countless skydiving jumps and endless memories. She then moved to Milwaukee where she worked for the head directors of Milwaukee School of Nursing and had her 1st child, Jessica. Kathy then came home to Dodgeville and met the love of her life, Kurt Riemenapp. She graduated from Southwest Technical College top of her class with an Associates Degree in Legal Assistant. After graduation, Kathi and Kurt married in 1990 and completed their family with four children Jessica, Mary, Nicole, and Sean. They built a beautiful life for themselves and their children.

Kathi was a woman who lived life to the fullest and had an artistic talent running through her veins. She loved to share her beautiful gifts with her family and community. She sang in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, taught ballroom dancing, sang/coordinated the Lands End Choir, and sang/played her guitar for St. Joseph Church in Dodgeville. She loved the beach, the summer sun, water skiing, cross country skiing, bike riding, swimming, gardening her flowers, yoga, horse riding, dancing with Kurt, cruising in her convertible, calligraphy, the arts, her music, and of course spending time with her family.

She was a devoted partner with her husband, Kurt, running their family business of TaeKwon-Do for 15 years, while obtaining her 2nd Degree Black Belt. Kathi dedicated 30+ years of her career to Lands’ End. Once retired, she operated and owned “Olly Olly Oxen Tees” for the past 9 years where she shared her passion in art and graphic design. She found pride and joy in volunteering for Horsepower to Heartbeat (H2H), the Lionesses in Cobb, and more.

Kathi was the prime example of how to live, love entirely, and simply enjoy life to the fullest. She expressed unconditional forgiveness even when it wasn’t asked for. Any opportunity she had to help someone in need, she would jump to it without question. She was always a beaming light when helping care for her grandchildren. Whenever she would get a call asking for help with the grandkids, she was there in a heartbeat. Whether it was just down the road or all the way to Milwaukee, she loved to spend time with and care for them. She was the best GamGam in the whole world. Kathi was a woman of enormous strength and resilience who endured and persevered through endless heartaches. Kathi never ran away from the “fires” of life, but instead ran right into them head first. She embodied the importance of family, faith, and love. She was a rare and beautiful gem who will be deeply missed.

Kathi will be greeted in Heaven by her daughter, Jessica Lipska; her parents, Mary Ann and Sunny Lipska; her in-laws, Ben and Donna Riemenapp; her brother, Michael Lipska; her sister, Juliet Adametz; brother-in-laws, John Adametz and Lonnie Freymiller; sister-in-laws, Cheryl Lipska, Kendra Lipska; Penny Riemenapp; Mary Nuenthel; her niece, Stacey Jo Lipska; and her nephew, Joshua Adametz.

Kathi is survived by her husband, Kurt; two daughters, Mary Rundhaug (Jason) and Nicole King (Gary); son, Sean Riemenapp; four grandchildren, Vada; Jovi; Ivory; and Carter; five siblings, Wayne (Carole) Lipska; Gail (Phil) Rohowetz; Ryan Lipska; Melvin (Ginny) Lipska Jr.; as well as sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and many friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH in Dodgeville. Burial will be held at St. John Cemetery, County Road G & Shemak Road, Muscoda at 2:30 p.m.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville.

We want to express our gratitude and sincere thanks to all of the clinical staff at Upland Hills Health, especially nurse Sandy who helped mom in her toughest hours.

Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers 

Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com