Obituary for Catherine M. Steigerwald

She was born February 11, 1924, in La Crosse, Wis., to Edward and Helen (Wasmeier) Hammes. Catherine attended and graduated from Bangor High School. She worked as a young women at Fort McCoy. It was during this time that she met Robert Steigerwald. During this meeting he told her they would be dancing at her wedding in two years and in January of 1947 they were married. Father George Hammes was Catherine's first cousin and officiated their ceremony. He later would become the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese in Superior, Wisconsin. Catherine was one of 50 first cousins in the Hammes family and had been the last living first cousin for many years. Because of Robert's love for playing baseball, Catherine became an avid sports fan and attended all of his games. When her three boys became involved in sports, especially baseball, she continued following them in all of their sporting events. She also loved watching the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers and always had to know when they were on the T.V. In 1967, Catherine worked as a cook at Bangor Elementary School. This was a job she thoroughly enjoyed. Catherine also was a devoted Catholic and was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Parish in Bangor where she sang in the choir, served funeral lunches and was involved in other church activities. Even when she lived in Sparta at the assisted living she attended the Masses with her son and prayed the Rosary. Catherine also enjoyed her weekly card club, playing 500 with her girlfriends. On February 5, 2011, Robert preceded Catherine in death, she was also preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Helen; and her brother, James Hammes and David (Betty) Hammes.

Catherine is survived by her three sons, Joel (Mary), Bob (Nancy), and Jerry (Nancy); 10 grandchildren, Amy (Matt) Heyroth, Sara (Jeremy) HodKiewicz, Erik (Nikki) Steigerwald, Julie (Kyle Mooney) Steigerwald, Joseph (Laura) Steigerwald, Mike (Katie) Steigerwald, Kathleen Steigerwald, Angie Steigerwald, Jared (Harlee) Steigerwald, and Tyler Steigerwald; and 11 great-grandchildren, Abby and Aaron Heyroth, Dylan and Dane HodKiewicz, Gavin and Stella Steigerwald, Adeline Steigerwald, Olivia Steigerwald, Natalie Steigerwald, and Leo and Everlyn Steigerwald.

A Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, February 29, 2024, at St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Parish, 210 E. Hamlin St., West Salem. Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill and Deacon Bob Zietlow will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. A visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass Thursday at the church.

Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Bangor Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be offered on this website.