Kathleen Latham

Kathleen Boylson Latham died at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 24, 2019. She was 76. Mrs. Latham was born on March 25, 1943, in Lompoc, California, to Myron and Jeraldine Boylson, nee Dierken. The family moved shortly thereafter to Tuscola, Illinois, where Kathleen was raised together with her two brothers, Larry and Patrick. Kathleen graduated St. Therese's College in Winona, Minnesota, where she earned a five-year bachelors in nursing, training with the renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She worked as a registered nurse in New York City, where she met and married her husband, Dudley (Del) Latham. Within a year of marriage, they moved to the Chicago area, where Kathleen founded the Lamaze Chapter of Chicago. She eventually transitioned to part-time work - teaching birthing classes - in order to spend more time with her growing family. Five years later, Kathleen & Del moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Kathleen partnered with Del in forming their family business, Roll Products. Kathleen's love of Catholic tradition was the driving force behind the successful founding of St. Therese's - a chapel and private Catholic school outside Madison. She devoted almost 10 years to running the Academy of St. Therese as its principal, which served the needs of Catholic families in the area. Kathleen's efforts ensured that her children and the children of others had an authentic Catholic education - something so important to her. St. Therese's functions today as a thriving chapel of the Society of St. Pius X. In 1986, Kathleen and Del moved to St. Marys, Kansas, where Kathleen immersed herself fully into the support of her children's school, St. Mary's Academy, serving as a second mother to many of the boarding students who passed through. The onset of Multiple Sclerosis in the mid 1990's slowed her ability to physically support the church and school, but she remained devoted to the sacraments throughout the progression of her illness, attending Mass as often as she was able. Kathleen was absolutely devoted in her role as mother for her children, tirelessly managing and attending countless activities, team dinners, fundraisers, and ceremonies, both in her earlier years at St. Therese's in Madison, and for another two decades at St. Mary's in Kansas. Upon the passing of her husband Del, Kathleen moved back to Madison in 2018 to be close to family, spending the last year of her life happily participating in her grandchildren's activities and family life. She will be remembered by the many who knew her for her extraordinary faith, clear principles, bold personality, and generous spirit toward anyone who walked in her door - setting a place at the table within moments of the doorbell ringing. Kathleen is survived by her children Elizabeth (Joe), Cliff, Greg (Jennifer), Tom (Anne Marie), Mark (Alicia), John (Kristina), and Andrew (Alison), as well as 33 grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Del, her parents, Myron and Jeraldine, her brothers Patrick and Larry, and her stepmother, Virginia (Hague) Boylson. Public Visitation is scheduled for 2pm at Piper Funeral Home, St. Marys. A Rosary will be recited at 5:20 P.M. Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Assumption Chapel in St. Marys. Requiem Mass will be offered at 9:30 A.M. Friday, May 3, 2019 at the chapel, followed by interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, St. Marys, Kansas. Memorials may be made in Kathleen's name and sent to Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple, St. Marys, KS 66536.