Kathleen Marie (Bachand) Guski, age 70 of Hammond, passed away at the American Heritage Care Center on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 after a long ordeal with breast cancer. She was born on February 25, 1943 to John and Patricia (Tetzner) Bachand in Joliet, Illinois. When Kathy was one year old, the family moved back to Washburn WI where she attended St. Louis Catholic School and graduated from Washburn High School in 1960. She married Raymond John Guski on September 8, 1962. They settled in Roberts, WI and welcomed their first child, Suzanne Kay in 1963. In 1965, they moved their family to Hammond Township and purchased a farm of their own in 1966. Soon after, Randall Raymond joined the family. Timothy Jay was born in 1968 and Sharrin Fay came along in 1973 completing the happy family.

Kathy was involved in numerous community activities. At Immaculate Conception Church in Hammond, WI she enjoyed singing in the choir and served as their Office Manager for nearly 37 years. She was also heavily involved with the True Blue 4-H club as a project leader and eventually their General Leader. Kathy was also involved with the County 4-H program serving on numerous committees. She served as a Girl Scout leader and was a long time member of Hammond Central Homemakers. Kathy enjoyed bowling and was a charter member of the Monday Afternoon Ladies League at Bol’s Lanes in Baldwin. For 20 years she worked at the Hammond Post Office retiring in 2003 and was currently serving as the Town of Hammond Treasurer.

Kathy’s hobbies included entering Open-Class projects in the St. Croix County Fair, earning many blue ribbons and champions for her baking, jams, crocheting, flowers, sewing, and craft exhibits. In 2008 she was recognized with a Living Memorial Award for her long standing involvement with the County Fair. She was also known to collect penguins and lighthouses. Furthermore, she also enjoyed many gatherings with her Red Hat Ladies.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Patricia and John A. Bachand; and brother, John Thomas Bachand; father and mother-in-law Louis and Ruth Guski. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Ray; children and grandchildren: Suzanne (Michael) Berge of Lakeville, MN, and their children Matthew, Jessica and Jillian; Randy Guski of Hammond, WI, and his children Andrew, Alex, Aaron and Abby; Tim (Angi) Guski of Ridgeland, WI, and their children Katrina, Melanie, Tyler, Samantha, Nichole, Rachel and Gabriel; Shari (Jeff) Turvaville of Bay City, WI, and their children Hope, Joy and Grace.; sister, Shirley Thoen; brothers, Stephen (Debra) Bachand, Joseph (Jane) Bachand, and Dennis (Jacque) Bachand; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lorraine (Lawrence) Young, Howard Guski, Luanne Carlos, and Sandra (David) Lowe; along with many nieces & nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial for Kathy Guski will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3rd at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hammond. Burial will be in the parish cemetery with her six grandsons serving as casketbearers. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00-6:00 p.m. with the Rosary being prayed to conclude the evening at 6:00 p.m. at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the mass at church on Monday morning. Memorials are preferred to the family.