Kathleen "Kathy" Miller

Kathleen S. Leigh Miller RACINE - Kathleen 'Kathy' Susan Leigh Miller, age 68, died on January 23, 2018, at her home in rural Caledonia, WI. She was being treated with chemo for cancer. Kathy was born on October 6, 1949, in Reedsburg, WI to Annabelle (nee: Jaquish) and Morris Leigh, who farmed in the Lime Ridge, WI area. Kathy loved horses from the time she was a very small girl, and soon had one of her own. Kathy attended White School, a rural one-room elementary less than a mile from her home, and graduated from Weston High School, Cazenovia, WI in 1967. She worked at the Reedsburg Food canning factory and then for Hankscraft Manufacturing before attending UW-Stout, in Menomonie, WI for a short time. She met her husband-to-be, Luke Miller, at a church youth function in 1964. Luke and Kathy were married on February 14, 1970 in Lime Ridge, WI. Daughter Jennifer was born in 1970 and son Luke in 1973. When she and Luke were courting, she would sit on his lap while he worked on a carburetor. Luke got his first (Chevrolet) Nomad in 1968. Kathy joined him in restoring this car and several others over the years. They would go on to participate in annual Nomad conventions all over the country without missing one for 47 years! Kathy worked for 26 years at Hancock Fabrics, in Milwaukee, primarily as an executive secretary, retiring in 2006. This was the perfect business for her since she loved working with fabrics and often made sample quilting projects for display in the store as well as at home and as gifts for relatives. Kathy was a patient, loving, gracious wife, mother, and grandmother, proud of her housekeeping skills and famous for her baked goods. A favorite activity was making cookies with her grandchildren. She and Luke froze and canned food from their garden. They were pillars of the FaithBridge United Methodist Church, in Franksville, WI. Kathy enjoyed regularly attending services and especially baking for the annual "cookie walk." Kathy was very supportive of her family. For almost 25 years, they traveled to Arizona several times a year to be with their daughter's family, as well as babysitting their youngest granddaughter in the Milwaukee area twice a week since her birth. Her interest in family led her to working on the genealogy of the Leigh and Jaquish ancestors which she has traced back to the early 1600's. She is survived by her husband Luke Miller, daughter Jennifer (Steven) Burks, son Luke (Amber) Miller, and grandchildren Cade and Avery Burks and Hannah Miller and brother, Dan (David Arms) Leigh. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services for Kathy Miller will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018 at FaithBridge United Methodist church, 10402 Northwestern Avenue, Franksville, WI with Rev. John Flemming officiating. Visitation will be at church on Friday evening “TONIGHT” from 5:00-7:00 p.m., January 26, and at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 27, prior to the service. Following services, Kathy will be laid to rest at Caledonia Memorial Park.

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Kathleen "Kathy" Miller

October 6, 1949 - January 23, 2018