Kathryn "Kathy" M. Oelschlager

Kathryn M. (Kathy) Oelschlager, 88, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2022 at the Village of Victory Lakes in Lindenhurst, Illinois, after a short illness. She was born on August 6, 1933 to the Rev. August J. and Arline (Preuss) Zaiser in Portage, Wisconsin and graduated from Bloomer High School in Bloomer, Wisconsin. She graduated from Wisconsin State Teachers College in Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from Indiana University South Bend.

Kathy served as an elementary and preschool teacher for many years, including 18 years as a kindergarten teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Michigan City, Indiana. She also was a church organist in her younger years, which led to her meeting her beloved husband of 65 years, the Rev. Harold E. Oelschlager, while he was serving as an intern pastor. She was his partner in ministry at Lutheran churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana and also played the keyboard for campground worship services.

Kathy loved spending time with family and friends, playing games, and having fun. She enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing the piano, reading, Bible studies, women’s retreats, summers in their camper in Chippewa Falls, and travels across the United States and Canada. She especially enjoyed trips to England and Wales for her master’s program, a tour of Lutheran sites in Germany, and two trips to Malawi to share educational ideas with Lutheran teachers and pastors.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Harold; children Jean (Timothy Jorgenson) of Clarkdale, Arizona; Lynn (Chip) English of Woodbury, Minnesota; Steve (Patty Moyer) of Grayslake, Illinois; grandchildren Zachary Isenhart and Katie (James) Eagle, Caroline and Emily Jorgenson, and Hannah and Andrew Oelschlager; great-grandsons Walden and Brit Eagle; her brother, the Rev. Edward (Dianne) Zaiser, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by their son Thomas and her parents.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022 starting at 11 a.m. Central with a memorial service to follow at 1 p.m., at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1151 N. St. Mary’s Rd., Libertyville, IL 60048. The service will be live streamed at this URL: https://vimeo.com/holycrosslibertyville

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Malawi Fund of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, 944 24 1/4 Street, Chetek WI  54728, or Lutheran Social Services (your local agency). PLEASE SEE DONATION LINK AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

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