Karla M. Wolfinger

How much do you sum up a life that has given so much so unselfishly?

Karla (Kuchelmeister) Wolfinger age 82 passed away at home on Christmas Day, where she was blessed to spend it with her family on earth and in heaven. Karla was born November 14, 1940 in Kaukauna Community Hospital to William (Rocky) and Jeanette (Spaulding) Kuchelmeister. She grew up with 5 siblings James Kuchelmeister (Joey), Lorelei Otte (Jim), Victoria Kuchelmeister, Todd Kuchelmeister (Juliette), Scott Kuchelmeister (Sue). She went to Holy Cross school and graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1959 where she was Class President, Captain Cheerleading Squad and her friends from school would call her “Kuch”.

She was united in marriage to Lawrence (Larry) Wolfinger on July 3, 1967. She would say her greatest accomplishments were her children Miles Wolfinger, Bradley Wolfinger, Kim Van Berkel, LeAnn Stever (Ron), Denise Diedrich (Dave) and Heidi Frederickson (Kurt). She adored her grandchildren Joshua Wolfinger, Stephanie Garvey (Matt), Sarah Van Berkel, Cynthia Voigt, Zacharia Frederickson, Jeremia Frederickson, Amanda Belongea and Travis Belongea and step-grandchildren Heather, Brianna and Nick Diedrich. She cherished her great grand-children Alyssa and Caleb Garvey, Kingston and Aaliyah Belongea, Lincoln and Parker Belongea.

Karla’s faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is what had gotten her through many trials and tribulations. Her prayer was that everyone would come to Christ and know Him like she did. The Sinner’s Prayer: ask for forgiveness, admit you are a sinner and accept in your heart- if you prayed this welcome to the family of Christ.

Karla touched many lives through her work and through her volunteerism. She worked as a teenager at A & W then off to Thilmany like her father. She then raised her babies and went back to work at White Clover (Arla) as a Line leader for 20 years.

On August 22^nd, 1992 her husband of 25 years passed away from a heart attack. Because he left a void in their lives, the family started the Larry Wolfinger Charity Golf Outing. Through the golf outing, she and others have helped many local families lives in a financial medical crisis. She felt the need was greater than this one-day event, and being led by the grace of God, she and her daughter Heidi started the Community Benefit Tree (CBT).  With the support of family, friends and the community many families’ lives were touched throughout Wisconsin for the last 18 years.

Karla’s faith and family was the cornerstone of who she was and how she was lead in her life’s journey. Her last two years were definitely a tribulation but were not in vain because with every tribulation there was a triumph.

In addition to her family left behind that will forever miss her and keep her legacy going are her in-laws, Mary Rolf, Dorothy Ryan, Clarence Jr. Wolfinger (Bonnie), Nancy Mattison , Grace Zwiers along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Welcoming her into her heavenly home were her two grandchildren, her mother Jeanette and father William, her husband Larry, her sisters Lei and Vicki, her brother Jim and her nephew Greg.

The funeral liturgy for Karla will be held at 11:00 AM on January 7, 2023, at St. Francis Church in Hollandtown, with Fr. Donald Everts officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.   Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Saturday morning from 9:00 AM until the time of the service.  Following the cemetery service, everyone is invited to Karla’s Celebration of Life at Van Abel’s of Hollandtown where there will be music and food. In honor and memory of Karla the family requests you to wear a fun Christmas hat, one of Karla’s favorite traditions.

A special Thank You to her caregivers Brittany and friends Kit Therrien, Jin Willems and Janice Lamers.

In lieu of flowers per Karla’s request please consider a donation to Community Benefit Tree.