Kathryn A. "Kay" Heglund

Long-time Medford resident Kathryn (Kay) Heglund joined her beloved husband Charlie on their journey to eternal life on Sunday, September 25, 2022.  She passed away one month shy of her 99th birthday in Menomonee Falls WI where she has lived since February 2016, first at Menomonee Place and recently at The Arboretum assisted living.

Kay was born in Ashland, Wisconsin on October 24, 1923 to Michael and Mary (Anich) Davis with a proud Croatian heritage. She grew up in Ashland and attended St. Agnes Parochial School and then graduated from DePadua High School.

On July 24, 1943 Kay married Charles Heglund at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Ashland. In 1955 they moved to Medford where together they raised three sons who survive her: Jeffrey (Hilda Krohn), Menomonee Falls, WI; Wayne (Kathleen McGuire), Clinton, WI and Davis (Linda Clausnitzer), Lexington, MN.  The couple celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary before his Alzheimer’s illness progressed and his death in 1998.

Kay’s primary work was caring for her family, but she later worked for the A&P and Copps grocery stores and as secretary to the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce. Upon retirement, community volunteer work became an important part of Kay’s life. She served Taylor County’s Commission on Aging as well as the Medford hospital’s Diabetic Board. At Holy Rosary Catholic Church, she served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister. An avid reader, Kay enjoyed working with elementary school students as well as reading to residents of the Medford nursing home.  A regular visitor at the nursing home, Kay often called (and enjoyed playing) bingo and made rosettes during the holidays.  She also enjoyed knitting, providing baby items for the hospital nursery, and delighting nursing home staff, friends, and family with her familiar checkerboard slippers.

Survivors also include her six adult grandchildren, Kenneth Heglund, Sheri (James) Krause, Ryan (Lara) Heglund, Kimberly (Jaime) Espinosa, Kelly (Chris) Mallinger and Stacey (Brian) Rudolph; and her ten great grandchildren, Kaitlin, Abigail and Ethan Krause, Reece, Hunter and Wesley Mallinger, Peyton and Anori Rudolph, Sylvia Heglund and Adela Espinosa.  In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her three brothers and two sisters. She is survived by brother-in-law Edward Walczak in Medford and sister-in-law Bernadine Heglund in Salem, OR.  Many nieces and nephews from coast to coast also survive with fond memories of “Auntie Kay”. 

A Celebration of Kay’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 22 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Medford, followed by interment at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 22 at the church.

Memorials are welcome to serve the youth at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Medford.

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.

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