Kathryn B. (Beggs) Payne

Kathryn B. Payne, 75, of Bancroft, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, April 20, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield with her loving family at her side.

She was born October 4, 1948 in Wi Rapids, the daughter of Arnold & Dorothy (Cummings) Beggs.  She was united in marriage to Gordon Payne on February 4, 1967.

Kathryn grew up on her parents dairy farm in Bancroft, where she learned at a very young age the value in hard work.  She and Gordy moved to Bancroft in 1976 where they raised their family on the little dirt road and have resided for 48 years. 

Kathryn worked for 23 years as a machine operator at Midwestern Farms in Plainfield. She finished her working career employed for 13 years at Banta/Warehouse Specialties in Plover.  Retiring on July 19, 2013 brought Kathryn her new title as #1 fan in the bleachers to her grandchildren’s sporting events, which was a title she cherished the most.

Kathryn was extremely passionate about 3 things in life. Her grandchildren/great-grandchildren, feeding and watching the birds, and the Milwaukee Brewers.  She was a quiet and softspoken woman unless the Brewers lost. Then we all heard about what it was she felt they did wrong.  She was a good coach from her reclining chair! 

She was a very hard worker and instilled that work ethic in to her daughters.  A woman of great strength. She proved to us that strength in 2004 when she survived a bite from a “damn mosquito” that ended up giving her West Nile encephalitis, hospitalized for 2 weeks and off work for 3 months.  Her biggest complaint wasn’t the fact it left her with no sense of taste but that she had to miss so much work!  

Broken hearted by her passing, but in awe of her amazing strength until the very end, are her husband Gordy, daughters, Kimberly Meyer, Almond, Diane Kollock (Brad) also of Almond, and Sandra Nigh (Dan) of Plainfield.  Her 7 amazing grandchildren, Dustin, Dakotah (Shane), Katie, Dylan (Carrie), Megan (Jared), Noah & Elijah.  6 cherished great-grandchildren, Mia, Khloe, Henley, Evan, Joanna and Lainey.   Siblings, Denzel Beggs, Plainfield, Margaret Burrows (Leonard), Coloma, Dave Beggs (Kelly), Bancroft and Betty Beggs, also of Bancroft.  Aunts, Uncles, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends she called family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold & Dorothy Beggs, her in-laws, Darwin & Violet Payne, her brother Kenneth Beggs and sister-in-law, Brenda Beggs. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Onitilo, 4th Floor Palliative care at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Pastor Todd and Jeff Stahl for all your unwavering compassion and care as we struggle through our difficult loss.  For Kathryn’s love of the Brewers we ask that you wear your favorite Brewer gear.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 12:00 noon at the Stahl Funeral Home Plainfield.  Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. 

REST IN PEACE, MOM.  WE’LL TEND TO YOUR GARDEN UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN.

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