GREEN BAY - Kathryn Marie Dunning, 76, passed away on February 22nd of natural causes in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  She was born on October 17 ^th , 1946, in Cashton, Wisconsin to Jeannette (Thune) and Lawrence Gilbeck.  She spent her formative years in Cashton, attending Cashton High School and graduating as Valedictorian in 1964.  She then attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Speech Education.  She taught high school English and Speech and Theater in various Wisconsin school districts, most notably in Cashton and Dodgeville.  She was also involved in directing musicals and plays, supervising many yearbook productions, and guiding her students in forensics competitions.  Kelly and Amy were influenced and inspired by their mom and became English teachers.

Kathryn married Daniel Schwarz in 1965, and together they raised three children:  Colleen (Kelly), Amy, and Daniel (Chip).  They later divorced.  She married Larry Dunning in 1989. They resided in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the remainder of their lives.

Kate will be remembered for her love of flowers and gardening, reading books, playing cards and cribbage, cheering on the Packers, and learning about and sharing her Norwegian heritage, especially making lefse and krumkake with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed her trips to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and the winter months she and Larry spent in Cape Coral, Florida.  She was happiest in the sunshine, enjoying the day's warmth and the sunsets at dusk.

Kathryn is survived by her children Kelly (Steve) Mikkelson (La Crescent, MN), Amy Schwarz (La Crosse, WI), and Chip Schwarz (La Crosse, WI), Randy (Andrea) Dunning (Hartland, MI), Scott (Kristian) Dunning (Grand Rapids, MI), Brianna (Eric) Knox, (Howard, WI), Todd (Judith) Rengel (Jersey City, NJ),  Rebecca (Matt) Roggensack (Madison, WI) her sisters Joan (John) Ruetten, (Oshkosh, WI), Lorraine Erickson (Kenosha, WI), and her brother Bob (Jane) Gilbeck (Holmen, WI), sister-in-law Linda (Frank) Mauro (Kettering, OH), grandchildren: Sam (Kristin) Leinfelder, Abby Leinfelder, Jack Schwarz, Hannah (Anders) Carlson, Cullen, Keegan, Nolan, Aiden and Gavin Dunning, Kennedy (Andrew) Hudgens and Quinn Dunning, Lily and Henry Knox,  and Shelby, Sarah, Katie and Connor Roggensack, great-grandchildren:  Lucca Seever, Margot, Felix and Flynn Carlson, Gabriel and Samuel Rengel.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents Jeannette and Lawrence Gilbeck; her sister, Mary Burdick; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law Robert and Josephine Dunning.

There will be no funeral.  A private, family celebration of life is being planned for this summer.