Kay Reiche

     Kay Maurcine Reiche, 84, of the Town of Nasewaupee, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay with her family at her side after a sudden and unexpected ruptured aneurysm.

It’s not a stretch to say, “she would hate all of this.” All the fuss, and all the “extra work” people are doing, and not being able to finish the things she was working on and involved in. But she would love the outpouring of love and support.

     She was born Sept. 6, 1939, in Newell, Iowa, the daughter of Maurice William Johnson and Esther Margretha (Nelson) Johnson. Kay graduated from Sulfur Springs High School in Newell and attended Iowa State College for a year before moving back to help with family.

     Later, Kay worked at the Wilson Packing Plant in Cedar Rapids. She became friends with Rita Hiemstra who introduced Kay to her brother Gunter, visiting from Germany. Rita immigrated several years earlier, and Gunter had come to visit.

     Gunter proposed to Kay before having to return to Hamburg, Germany. She followed him to Hamburg shortly after and spent six months with Gunter and his parents, working, and learning German and his family’s cooking (including family favorite rouladen.) The couple also spent time camping on the Baltic coast before returning to Iowa.

     Kay was united in marriage to Gunter Reiche on Feb. 10, 1963, in Cedar Rapids.

     The couple soon moved to Kenosha, to be near Lake Michigan. They had two children, Heidi and Eric.

After the children were a little older, Kay returned to work, first at MacWhyte Credit Union in Kenosha, then at Kemper Center, an event center, where she was able to work with her neighbor and dear friend Rose Wegerbauer. She also worked with the Kenosha Visitors and Convention Bureau before moving to Door County in 1999.

     Door County is a place she and Gunter loved and had vacationed their entire marriage, eventually purchasing a little log cabin near Sand Bay in Southern Door. In 1988, their daughter Heidi moved to Sturgeon Bay and in 1999, Kay and Gunter followed, building a house she designed.

     After settling here, she worked as a volunteer coordinator at the Door County Maritime Museum, a job she loved. Upon her retirement, she volunteered at the David Spude Cancer Center at Door County Medical Center, providing hand massages to those undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

     Kay enjoyed going to classes and book clubs at the Sturgeon Bay Y where she had a cherished group of friends.

     Kay enjoyed theater, especially attending Heritage Ensemble shows in Peninsula State Park in the 70s and 80s (the theater that eventually became Northern Sky Theater), and, years later, becoming friends with several early members.

     She loved gardening, and always looked forward to springtime flowers and summer tomatoes.

     She remembered everything about everybody she knew and cared about them deeply. 

     Kay will be deeply missed by her husband, Gunter, with whom she was blessed to share over 61 years of marriage; children, Heidi Hodges of Sturgeon Bay, and Eric (Jean) Reiche of DeForest; five grandchildren (Frederic and Gordon Hodges of Sturgeon Bay; Emalia, Allen, and Miles of DeForest); siblings, Judith Mitola, and Orville (Terie) Johnson of Nasewaupee. And so many friends—many of whom were able to attend her surprise 80th birthday party.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice (Jean) Johnson and Esther Johnson.

     Per her wishes, no services are scheduled at this time. A memorial celebration of life will be planned at a later date.

     Memorials may be given in Kay's honor for the David Spude Cancer Center Fund (323 S. 18th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay WI 54235; https://www.dcmedical.org/foundation/david-spude-cancer-center), or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org/donate). One of Kay’s last text message conversations was about St. Jude’s. Other organizations she supported were Northern Sky Theater’s Fred Alley New Musical Fund, and Door County Knock, a nonprofit news organization.

     Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Kay may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kay Reiche, please visit our floral store.