Steven R. Kudick

Steven R. Kudick, age 61 of Kewaunee passed on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at his home, in his bed, peacefully after a long battle with several long-term chronic illnesses that he fought bravely until the end.  Steve was born November 10, 1956 to John and Florence (Bosacki) Kudick of Montpelier. His entire life he shared an extremely close relationship with his mother, who died of lymphoma in 1996. He also lost his father in 1999 to Heart Disease and Diabetes.

Steve had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and information his entire life, as his forty plus years of news clippings and articles he saved from newspapers and magazines can attest.  He loved to learn from print media, more recently the internet, and always from people as they passed their life stories onto him. Traveling and Genealogy were favorite hobbies of his, along with reading a good biography, autobiography or book that piqued his interest–and he was interested in everything. He also appreciated being in nature, enjoying his flowers and plants and watching birds and other animals around him as he sat for hours on his deck or at the beach taking it all in. Music from all decades also appealed to him and gave him a lot of enjoyment his entire life.

A school counselor discouraging him from his first career choices of teaching and social work led him to his life’s vocation–nursing–which he worked in for almost forty years in several capacities. As his health changed, so did his jobs–each one coming at just the right time God decided he needed them to.

After a first marriage that ended in 1992 after ten years, he took a Pastor’s advice and took some time for himself.  When the time was right he met his co-worker Jill Doperalski in 1995 and they married on April 26, 1997.  They settled in to a home in Kewaunee where they lived the last twentyone years.

He is survived by his wife, Jill, In-Laws JW and Phyllis [Shedivy] Doperalski, Her sister Billee [Doperalski] Pelnar [John] and their children Josh [Marisha], Ben and JJ.  His Brother-in-Law, Joe Bongle, His niece, Kendal [Mike] Kittell, and their children, Cameron, Collin, and Kenzie, nephew Zack  [Kimberly] and Lyla. Steve’s siblings, Bea Lutzke, Ron [Sandie], Glenn, Tom [LouAnn] , Pat [MaryLou], Donna [Bill] Kiefert, Mary [Bud] Schultz, Trish Kudick. Three paternal Aunts, Martha, Frances, Rae and Uncle Norman, two maternal Aunts, Agnes Schlies and Rose Schlies, and numerous Nieces and Nephews.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Cletus, Robert, Kevin, his sister-in-law, Lisa [Doperalski] Bongle, a brother-in-law: Gary Lutzke, several Aunts and Uncles, and nephews Travis Schultz and Justin Pelnar.

The family wishes to thank Bea, Stacy, Pat and Michelle as well as all of the friends he thought of as family for their love, help and support during his long health battle.

Friends and Family may visit Buchanan Funeral Home in Kewaunee Saturday, June 23, after 1 pm until service at 6 pm. Burial at Riverview Cemetery following the service.