Dorothy A. Rath

Dorothy Anne (Fose) Rath

Dorothy Rath passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on April 8, 2023. Born on December 30, 1934, in Appleton, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Carlton Sr., and Marie Fose (Kagerbauer).  Dorothy married John R. Rath at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Appleton on August 28, 1956 and was blessed to have him as her loving spouse for over 65 years before his passing in March 2022.

Dorothy graduated from Appleton Senior High School in 1953.  In addition to being a skilled homemaker, she was employed in various capacities by Wisconsin Michigan Electric and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, and St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  By her example, she instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren respect for everyone and respect for life.    

Dorothy was thankful for her faith and the many blessings she received during her long life.  She cherished her time with family and friends, especially enjoying holidays, anniversary and birthday parties, sightseeing drives with her husband John, family reunions, restaurant outings, gatherings around the fire pit, and at club with her life-long friends.  She was an accomplished cook, with her potato pancakes, peanut butter cookies, and liver and onions among her family’s favorites.  When she rang the dinner bell, her children were sure to race home, knowing they would always be well fed and loved.   

Dorothy was an adept thrift store shopper with a keen eye for pretty things, including decorative bird houses.  She enjoyed movies, was an avid reader, and a frequent Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune viewer.  She was a life-long pet lover, having had the pleasure of owning numerous dogs, cats, and birds, including her childhood dog Pete and, most recently, her cat Sabrina and her Cockatiel Freckles.  She was a proficient angler, especially in catching trout on Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake in California.   

Dorothy is survived by her eight children: daughters Constance (Rick) Rath Kruszyna and Mary; sons John (Susan), Thomas (Patti), James (Kelley), Joseph, Michael (Sharon), and Robert (Masako) Rath Kageyama; 15 grandchildren: David (Cornelia), Leanne, Lauren, Lindsay (Jeffrey) Ferrier, Adam, Carolyn (Stephanie) Gebhardt-Rath, Christy, Natalee (Mike) Keenan, Jameson, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Clara, Gwendolyn, Sachika, and Natsumi; four great grandchildren: Mountain Moon, Keira, Cornelia, and Harper; and sisters and brothers-in laws Jane (Cal) Sackerson, Robert (Jeannine), Rick Ottman, and William (Michelle). 

In addition to her parents, in-laws Jerome and Ann Rath and husband John, Dorothy was preceded in death by her sisters and their husbands Elizabeth (Robert) Hoolihan, Marilyn (Robert) Weyenberg, brother Carlton Jr., sister-in-law, and brother-in-law Mary Ann (Tom) Kinzer, sister-in-law Judith (Rick) Ottman, and brother in-law James Rath.

Visitation is at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 222 E. Fremont Street, Appleton Wisconsin, on Thursday. April 20, 2023, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial.  Beginning on April 24, 2023, Mass may be viewed online at www.sacredheartappleton.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.