Kathleen Kafczynski

DULUTH, Minn. — Kathleen Kafczynski, 84, of Ironwood, Michigan, passed away Feb. 22, 2021, in Duluth, with her husband by her side.

Born in Ironwood on Jan. 7, 1937 to Joseph and Mary Jelich, Kathleen attended and graduated from Ironwood schools.

On Oct. 13, 1956, she married Joseph Kafczynski at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and they made their home in Ironwood. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this October.

Kathleen worked as a secretary at the Norrie School in Ironwood until she became a mother and homemaker. Once her children were grown, she began working at Kmart until her retirement.

She had a very strong faith and recited the Rosary daily.

Kathleen’s entire life revolved around her children, then grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At any given time, you could find at least one or more of her grandchildren sitting at “Grandma’s kitchen table.”

She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.

Kathleen is survived by her loving husband, Jos4eph; her sons, Joe (Robin), Michael (Roseann) and Peter (Katherine), and daughter, Jill (Scott) Wilson; 10 grandchildren, Joey (Morgan), Cassie (AJ), Jacqueline (Jesse), Elizabeth (Jason), Michaela (Robert), Rebekah (Andrew), Janelle (Donald), Nathan (Jonnie), Connor (Hannah) and Parker (Jillian); and 13 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Mary Ellen Usitalo, Bette Drago and Ann Jelich in infancy; and sister-in-law, Ruth Anderson.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.