Obituary: Kathleen H. Egan

March 30, 1949 – Aug. 28, 2023

Kathleen H. Egan (Hammill) was born March 30, 1949, in Neenah, Wisconsin to Anita Hammill (VanVreede) and John Hammill. The sun set on Kathy’s time with us on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 at sunset. She faced many health challenges bravely and was a breast cancer survivor for over 25 years. Ultimately she passed away from congestive heart failure. Surprisingly Kathy was a quiet person in her younger years, voted the shyest person in her class of 435 at Neenah High School, graduating in 1967. She met the love of her life at UW-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Kathy and Michael Egan were married for 52 years and recently celebrated their 104th anniversary, married on January 17, 1971, Menomonie, Wisconsin, and June 20, 1971 Berry Lake, Wisconsin. Kathy was a preschool educator and substitute teacher as well as a very creative primitive artist and full-time homemaker. She loved living at Berry Lake and capturing some of the most spectacular sunset photos ever taken. She was especially fond of all the birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, and dragonflies. She also loved her second home in Ireland where she spent many hours walking the beach of Ferriters Cove finding treasures (pieces of quartz/Kerry diamonds) and cleaning up the trash brought in by the ocean. Kathy was a fierce and strong advocate for those she thought were unfairly treated. She enjoyed bluegrass music festivals with many of her friends and her husband Mike. She was a founding member of the Ladies of Bluegrass, a charity that benefits breast cancer. She was known as the dancing queen to all who witnessed her steps and joyous, infectious energy.  

She had two daughters, Cybelle Egan (Robert Fellrath) of Tucson, Arizona, and Tara Egan (Chris Herber) of Suamico, Wisconsin. She also had one amazing, creative, and wise-beyond-her-years granddaughter Eleanor Fellrath, whom she was tremendously proud of. She will be missed by many including her siblings Jack (Barb) Hammill of Florida, Susan Gonzales Thomsen of Chicago, Illinois, Mary Host of Racine, Wisconsin, Jim Hammill of New London, Wisconsin, and Michael (Carol) Hammill of Aurora, Wisconsin and her many nieces and nephews. Brothers and sisters-in-law, Dick (Anne) Egan, John Arango, Kevin (Pam) Egan, Martha Egan, Annette Egan, Kathy (Jack) Stout, Pat (Deb) Egan, and Tom (Hillary) Egan and many nieces and nephews. Also her Irish family Seamus and Brid O’Luing and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Anita, sisters Joan Parker and Patricia Hammill, niece Aimee Hammill, and brothers-in-law Tony Host and Finn Thomsen, mother and father-in-law Peg and Chuck Egan, sister-in-law Polly Arango, brother-in-law Nick Egan and nephew Nick Arango. Also her close friends Ann and Marlene. 

Special thanks to the Lucky Four; Lynn, Cindy, and Kay, also good friend Anna Chickering, and the entire team at Unity Hospice; Deb, Leah, Tori, Heather, Gail, and Sheryl and everyone behind the scenes. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our cousin Kate Egan for her timely counsel and guidance. 

Hold me, as the leaves do unto the trees. Until it is time for me to fall.
—Hammill the Camel circa 1967

Ní bheidh mo leitheid arís ann! [The likes of me won’t be there again!]

To know her was to love her and she loved to talk. Per her request, she asked that we include the phrase “She finally shut up” in closing. 

Celebration of life to be held at Berry Lake sometime in the next year. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Safe Haven in Shawano, WI, or a domestic violence shelter in your area.
Swedberg Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.