Katherine Gratke

Madison- Katherine A. Gratke, age 71, passed away on May 7, 2014, after being hospitalized for pneumonia and the ravages of post-polio syndrome. She was married to Robin Gratke, who predeceased her in the summer of 1995. She is survived by siblings:Frank Hall, Annie Milne, Mary Ellen Post, and families. Katherine was born on July 22, 1942, in Whitefish Bay Wisconsin, the first daughter of J. Bodine and Mabel Hall.
Katherine graduated from Madison's West High School, and went on to The University of Wisconsin receiving a B.A. in Integrated Liberal Arts with a major in Latin. She worked her way through school at the U.W. Medical Library. She then went to the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin and earned a Masters degree in Library Science.
She began her career at the University of Toronto Library in Ontario Canada. After a few years she came back to Madison and served at the Space Science and Engineering Center as the Librarian of the Schwerdtferger Library.
On May 7, 1991 The McBurney Disability Resource Center recognized her work with an Outstanding Staff Award.
Katherine retired shortly thereafter. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, cultivating her garden, cooking, listening to WHA, especially their operas, caring for her cats, reading, drawing and corresponding with her friends.
She was a generous soul who loved life, and was loved by all! She will be missed by both family and friends.
Our family wishes to thank the staffs at Independend Living, Agrace HospiceCare, Saint Mary's Care Center and Meriter Hospital.
A visitation will be held on Thursday May 22, 2014, from 5p.m. until 8p.m. At CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd., Madison.
Interment will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery on Speedway Rd.