Katherine M. "Kathy" Powell

Katherine M. “Kathy” Powell

(nee Massong)

Age 86. Passed away peacefully on Friday December 22, 2023. Beloved wife of 60 years to (the late) Jim Powell. Cherished mother of Tony (Jackie) Powell. Loving “Granny” to her 2 grandsons, Jim and Rob (Christie) Powell, whom she absolutely adored and doted upon. Great-grandma, or “Oma”, to Lilyana, Logan, JoJo, Jimi, and Tony. Further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Preceded in death by her husband Jim, brother Andy, and sisters-in-law Marie, Joyce, and Pat, among others.

Kathy was originally born in Kikinda, Yugoslavia, now Serbia, into an ethnic group known as the Donaushwaben Germans, or Danube Swabian. During the end of WWII, she and her mother Barbara were interred briefly in a Russian POW camp. She immigrated at 15 years old to the United States with her parents Nicholas and Barbara Massong and brother Andrew Massong, passing through New York City then Chicago onto her way to Baraboo, WI, where they owned a small farm and raised chickens.

She met the love of her life, Jim, when he was visiting Andy and Joyce. Their first date was to see the movie The Sound of Music.

Kathy and Jim settled in Saint Francis, WI, where they raised their son, Tony. She worked for 23 years at EZ Painter as an assembler. After retirement, Kathy and Jim moved to Big Bend, WI, where he took a job as a custodian at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Ever the busy body, she did not waste time in joining him on his daily cleaning duties. Kathy enjoyed doing yard work, cleaning, absolutely fawning over her grandchildren, of which she was a daily staple in their lives, and attending Big Bend Village Hall meetings to complain about her taxes. She was never more than a phone call away if you were in need of a ride somewhere or needed money, and she never complained about giving either.  She never said goodbye.  It was always "Auf wiedersehen", meaning "until we meet again".

She was known as (the one and only) “Granny” to her grandchildren. Later, when a great-grandma, she embraced her German heritage and switched to the nickname “Oma”. Kathy was profoundly proud of her German heritage, always quick to let you know that “the Germans do it better”.

A visitation will be held of Friday December 29, 2023 at MAX A. SASS & SONS WESTWOOD CHAPEL, W173 S7629 Westwood Dr. Muskego, WI 53150, from 10am until the time of funeral service at 11:30am. Burial to follow alongside her husband at Highland Memorial Park.

Granny, you will be missed dearly. Oma, we are so fortunate to have had you in our lives. You were a one-of-a-kind person who only comes along, if you’re lucky, once-in-a-lifetime. We were able to enjoy you for 86 years. May you now be reunited with Grandpa Jim and your friends, Uncle Ed and Aunt Marie, Uncle Andy and Joyce, your parents, siblings, and other family members.

We love you, Oma! Auf Wierdersehen!