Mary Kathryn Acker

LIVESTREAM SERVICE:

Katie's Livestream Service will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”

WAUNAKEE - Mary Kathryn “Katie” (nee Hable) Acker, age 71 of Waunakee, passed away peacefully from ovarian cancer surrounded by her family on Saturday, February 22, 2025. She was born on January 10, 1954, in Madison, the daughter of Burton and Bernetta (Stoffel) Hable.

Katie married Garry Acker on May 12, 1984, in Madison, and they were married for 40 wonderful years. Throughout those years, she supported Garry’s career, moving to Minneapolis, Minn., Rochester, N.Y., and St. Louis, Mo. Together they enjoyed traveling, dinners with friends, but most importantly, spending time with their children and grandchildren.  

Katie graduated from James Madison Memorial High School in 1972 where she was a member of the track team, hockey cheerleading squad, yearbook staff and was the editor of the school newspaper. From an early age Katie loved to play school and knew she wanted to be a teacher. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She worked as a teacher in the Madison, Wis., Perinton, N.Y., and Rockwood, Mo. school districts. Katie was well loved by her students, parents and colleagues. She loved reading, playing cards, dominos and mahjong weekly with friends, but especially cheering on the men’s Badger basketball team.   

Katie is survived by her husband, Garry; children, Charlie (Courtney) Dvorak, Betsy (Nick) Oksanen and Megan Acker; granddaughters, Sophia Wordinger, Nora Oksanen and Annika Oksanen; sisters, Martha (Paul) Pratt and Susan (Scott) Cole; brothers, Ben (Laurie) Hable, Fred (Renee) Hable and Chuck Hable; mother-in-law, Marilyn Acker; brothers-in-law, Larry Acker and Randy (Jen Mertes) Acker; 15 nieces and nephews; 7 grandnieces and nephews; and the father of her first two children, Bill Dvorak. She was preceded in death by her parents, Burton and Bernetta Hable; sister, Chris Filo; and father-in-law, LaVerne (Hunch) Acker.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and also at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. Burial will be held at a later date at Resurrection Cemetery.

The family would like to personally thank Dr. Lisa Barroilhet and the entire staff at UW Carbone Cancer Center for Katie’s excellent care.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Katie’s name may be made to Agrace Hospice or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

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

Gunderson West
Funeral & Cremation Care
7435 University Ave.
(608) 831-6761