Kay A. Marlenga

Kay Marlenga, 98, died at Marshfield Medical Center Park Fall Hospital on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, after a short illness.

She was born in Catawba, Wisconsin on July 17, 1926, the daughter of John and Anna Hoogland. She grew up on the family farm on Moonshine Alley in Catawba and attended Northfork School through the 8th grade.

Kay married Martin Marlenga on October 21, 1950 in Catawba. They bought a farm in the Town of Harmony in 1952 and raised their six children on that farm.

Kay farmed all her life and won numerous awards for top quality milk from Wisconsin Dairies. In 2000, she received the Price County Historical Society Building Award for a unique dairy barn; the cement silo is completely sided as part of the barn.

Kay loved to read and was a great letter writer. She enjoyed keeping in touch with family and friends through notecards, birthday cards, and Christmas cards. Kay was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and lived to see them finally win the World Series! She was a member of the St. Mary’s quilting group and then became an avid quilter. Kay made more than 60 quilts and shared them with family and friends. She loved flowers and tried to have a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table no matter the season. Kay donated more than 32 pints of blood over the years. Though she never went too far from home, she enjoyed birthday lunches at Hill of Beans and blueberry picking trips to Bayfield.

Kay is survived by her children: Pat (Terry) Haubert, Barbara, Martin, John (Willie), and Carol (Kyle) Austad; her son-in-law Mark Gosmire; her grandchildren Kristen McNab, Amy Gosmire, and Dayne (Jasmyn) Marlenga: her great grandchildren Henry McNab and Paisley Marlenga.

She was preceded in death by her husband Martin on July 16, 1973 and her daughter Mary Gosmire on August 1, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her four brothers: Matthew, Walter, John, and Jerome, as well as two sisters: Anne and Dorothy.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at 11:00 am at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Catawba with Father Lourdo celebrating the funeral mass; visitation from 9:30 am until the time of the service. Interment will be at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.