Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital.
Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm wife. She was a true business partner to her husband and later their sons that joined them in the business. She made sure to keep everyone fed three times a day on home cooked meals with ingredients she had preserved from her garden. She will be remembered as an avid and accomplished crocheter, cook and baker especially her donuts and decorated birthday cakes. She also waded into modern technology on her iPad to watch the news, EWTN and Rosary. She stayed on the family farm until she was 100. She was able to stay and enjoy her home farm through the love and devotion of her children and several caregivers, Sarah, Betty, Birgit, Vicki, Sherry and her weekly massage with Wendy. She moved to Fairhaven last April and enjoyed the many social activities and the dear friends she became reacquainted with and new friends and staff that were so incredibly friendly and kind. Hospitality and gatherings with extended family and friends were her enjoyment. Above all else in Dorothy’s life, was her love for God, followed by her family and her friends. She was devoted to her faith. She lived a wonderful life and it’s the end of a family era. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered by those she leaves behind.
Dorothy is survived by: her loving children, Susan (Randall Zirk) Kau of Madison, Kenneth (Leslie) Kau of Palmyra, Gerard (Jani) Kau of Palmyra, Patricia (William) Breitzman of Stillwater, MN, Jean Ann (Tim) Reith of Palmyra, and Daughter-In-Law Cheri Kau Miller of Florida; and her grandchildren, Mackenzie, Alyssa, Jennifer, Kendall, Jerrod, Henry, Matthew, Jessica, Peter, Meagan (Evan), Chelsea (Matt), Kaylea, Tyler (Micheala), Nicholas (Katherine), and Jonathan (Abigail). She is further survived by 15 great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her dear husband, Alvin E. Kau, 3 children, Kristine, Teresa, and James, her grandchild, Jamie, and two siblings, Elizabeth (the late George) Kau, and Joseph (the late Marie) VonRueden.
Visitation for Dorothy will take place from 4:00 PM until 6:30 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026 at the Gibson Family Funeral Home in Eagle (499 Elkhorn Road, Eagle, WI 53119). A Rosary Service will take place at 7:00 PM Friday evening at the funeral home with Fr. Garret Kau presiding.
A Second Visitation will take place at St. Theresa Catholic Church on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 10:30 AM until 12:00 Noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 Noon at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle (136 W. Waukesha Road, Eagle, WI 53119). Fr. Jordan Berghouse will officiate the mass. Dorothy will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. Theresa Catholic Cemetery immediately following the mass.
Gibson Family Funeral Homes of Eagle and Palmyra, WI is serving the family. To place an online condolence, please visit gibsonfuneral.com
