Kathryn "Katie" Lynn Plesac

Kathryn “Katie” Lynn Plesac, age 54, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024, surrounded by her family. During her six-year battle with cancer, she inspired so many with her amazing positivity, optimism, and thoughtfulness. She truly lived her life to the fullest and we will always cherish our memories of her.

Katie was born in Madison, WI on January 14, 1970, to Jim and Sue Marschall. She graduated from Madison West High School in 1988 and earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and elementary education from UW-Madison in 1993. She met her husband, Mark, in college, and they were married on July 1, 1995. Katie lived in New Mexico and California for 17 years where she had countless adventures and met many great friends before moving back to Wisconsin in 2012 to be closer to family.

Katie always had a love for children which led her to a career in elementary education. She was very creative and had a real gift for creating fun and engaging lessons and activities for her students. Outside the classroom, she applied that same creativity as a stay-at-home Mom for many years. She loved to plan themed parties, special events, and fun activities. Over the years Katie taught in New Mexico, California, and Wisconsin. Most recently, she was a Reading Resource teacher at Westside Elementary in Sun Prairie, WI.

Katie loved spending time outdoors and her favorite activities included hiking, biking, waterskiing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. In winter, she loved snowshoeing, candlelight hikes, and skiing. Always the teacher, she even got certified to be a youth ski instructor at Cascade Mountain. Most of all, Katie loved the water and always cherished attending the annual family reunion at Silver Lake in Wautoma, WI. 

Katie is survived by her husband, Mark, and their daughters, Jenna and Lauren Plesac; her mother, Sue Marschall, sister Annie (Mark) Wyrobeck and brother Paul (Becky) Marschall and six nieces and nephews: Cali and Matthew Wyrobeck, Henry and Will Marschall, and Katelin and Isabel Plesac. She was preceded in death by her father, Jim Marschall. 

Please join us in celebrating her life on Sunday December 8, 2024, at 1pm at Olbrich Gardens, 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI. Visitation will begin at Noon and guests are encouraged to wear bright or holiday attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Sun Prairie Library Foundation www.sunlibfoundation.org (she was an avid reader and loved books!) and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation www.bcrf.org.

 Please share your memories Katie here on her Tribute Wall. 

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406