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MADISON - Kathleen Mae “Kay” Mader, age 93, passed away with her loving family by her side, on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. She was born on Nov. 8, 1930, to William V. and Mae P. (Carroll) Paltz, in Madison, Wis., where she was raised with her three siblings.

Kay graduated from Edgewood High School. She married George Mader at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison on Feb. 23, 1952. She and George lived in Madison their whole lives and raised their six children on the east side of Madison. Kay worked for American Family Insurance as a money processor.

Once retired, Kay, George and the kids still living at home, decided to take up camping. They started out with a Winnebago motor home and eventually moved up to a permanent camper at Hickory Hills in Edgerton. They loved going every weekend and met so many friends at the campground. It was one of the best times of their lives.

Kay dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was everything to her. Kay loved going for rides and taking trips to Ho-Chunk, and was a HUGE Badgers, Packers and Brewers fan. She especially loved watching Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks! She rarely missed a game. Kay was an avid collector of Precious Moment figurines, depression glass, cobalt blue glass and angels. She was also in "card club" with her dear friends from childhood…they never really played cards, but got together to eat dessert and talk. She looked forward to card club for many years. Kay never drove, but she knew her way around Madison.

Kay was a devoted mother to Tom (Ann) Mader, Marilyn McWilliams (Mike, deceased), Vicki Mader, Jeanne (Nick) Kessenich, Amy (Doug Gehrke) Zelinski and Karen (Jeff) Rudolph; proud grandmother to Joe (Jessica), Kimberley (James), James, Stephanie, Christopher, Stefanie (Scott), Ryan (Ashley), Scott, Kevin, Marcus, Jackson and Kaitlin; and adoring great-grandma “GiGi” to Hunter, Hailey, Lilly, Simon, Jacob, Teaghen, Sariah, Wes, Finley, Kendall, Jordan, Lila, Chesney and Cypress.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, George Mader in 1994; her parents, William and Mae; brothers, Carroll (Lillian) Paltz, William (Lorraine) Paltz and Harold (Jackie) Paltz; granddaughter, Valerie Zelinski Kittel; and son-in-law, Mike McWilliams.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday.

A special thank you to the staff at Heritage for taking care of her for the past several years and a very special thank you to Agrace HospiceCare for lovingly caring for our mom.

What her words could no longer convey, her smile did. Mom loved everyone and told them every chance she had.

Raise a glass of Crown Royal for Kay!

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420