Kathleen Zaremba

Kathleen M. (Kathie) Smith Zaremba, of Madison, Wisconsin passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 19, 2016 at Agrace Hospice, following her fight against very aggressive cancer she discovered in May. Kathie was born December 14, 1953 to George and Kathleen Smith in Wyandotte, Michigan. After graduating from high school in Southgate, Michigan, Kathie received both her Bachelor of Science and her Master of Public Health degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she met her husband, Tom Zaremba. Kathie and Tom were married in Wyandotte, Michigan on August 23, 1975.

Kathie moved to Madison in 1978, where she began a 32 year career in medical research at the UW Clinical Science Center. She began work as a Research Project Coordinator in the UW Department of Human Oncology, working with breast cancer and pediatric leukemia research groups. In 1992, Kathie joined the Wisconsin Cystic Fibrosis Neonatal Screening Project in Pediatrics, where she worked for 15 years in pre/post-award grant management and cystic fibrosis clinical trials research. During that time she also held a part-time instructor position at Madison Area Technical College, where she taught microbiology and chemistry. From April, 2007 until she retired in 2010, Kathie was a research program manager with the Department of Urology

Kathie dearly loved her children, Leland, Rebecca, and Elizabeth, her son in law, Ulises Lozano, her new grandchild, Ulysses, and her extended family. Kathie was also deeply passionate about music. She wrote and performed children's and folk music in the Madison area, playing her guitars, banjo, mandolin, harmonicas, ukulele and piano. She loved to sing and performed with local folk and bluegrass musicians at the Weary Traveler and at the Lakeside Coffee House. Kathie helped found the Monroe Street Arts Center in Madison, and performed in bluegrass music competitions, most recently at the Baker Seed Company music festival in Missouri, where her band won second place on May 3. She avidly participated in her neighborhood celebrations, including as drummer in the 4th of July bands and leading folk songs. She also taught a semester of music to primary grades children at Madison Country Day School in the fall of 2015.

Kathie was a member and deacon at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where she served on several committees, supported the school that the Church sponsors in Guatemala, and played in Covenant's New Day Band.

At age 52, Kathie began competing in triathlons in Wisconsin and other states, often winning medals for her age class. She also enjoyed biking, and participated annually in the Scenic Shore 150 mile bike ride as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She was an avid participant in several Wisconsin biking and fitness groups.

Kathie is survived by her husband, Tom Zaremba; her three children, Leland Zaremba, Rebecca (Ulises) Lozano, and Elizabeth Zaremba; and her grandchild, Ulysses Lozano. She is also survived by her brothers and sister, Daniel (Kathy) Smith, Phillip (Carol) Smith, Carl (Misty) Smith and Cheryl (Allen) Hosler; and by numerous cousins and dear friends. We will miss her quick smile, her singing, and her gifts of love and encouragement of others.


A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, June 23, at 2 pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church at the corner of Mineral Point and Segoe Roads, in Madison. Visitation with family will take place in the hour before the celebration of life, and there will be a brief reception at the church immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor Kathie's memory may make donations to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to UW Carbone Cancer Center or to Agrace Hospice, Madison.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434