Kathleen “Kathy” Wanninger, age 79, of Jasper, Indiana, passed away surrounded by family at 12:02 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Deaconess Gateway in Evansville, Indiana.
Kathy was born in Jasper, Indiana, on March 25, 1946, to Clement and Cornelia (Schulte) Welp. She married Joe Wanninger on June 25, 1966, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana.
She was a 1964 graduate of Jasper High School.
She was a lifetime homemaker, and she was a devoted wife, mother, and friend to all she met. She first worked at Kimball Electronics and then worked at Home Interiors for eight years and the jewelry department at Kmart for eight years. She had been the cafeteria manager at Fifth Street School in Jasper, Indiana, and retired after 26 years. She loved managing the chili suppers for the PTO before the football games; she is known by many for her chili.
She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, where she helped with the Parish Press and church picnic, was a member of the bereavement committee, and was a 57-year member of the Ladies Sodality. She was also a member of the Jasper D of I and the Sunset Extension Homemaker’s Club. She and her husband were members of the Jasper German Club and Sister Cities since 1987; they were instrumental in helping with the pastry booth at the Jasper Strassenfest. They hosted German Exchange students and many groups from Pfaffenweiler and Munich, from which they made lifelong friends that became a part of their family. She was a big supporter of the American Red Cross, and was a faithful donor, donating every 45 days.
Kathy loved going on trips, as she and her husband traveled to all 50 states and 13 countries. She enjoyed camping, spending time at Beaver Lake and the farm, attending the performances at VUJC and the Lincoln State Park Amphitheatre, gardening, canning, cooking, playing cards, and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and attending all of their activities and events. Her friends were dear to her heart and she religiously met with a group of lifetime friends once a month for lunch at the Schnitzelbank.
Surviving are her husband, Joe Wanninger, Jasper, IN, four children, Christine (Paul) Shafer, Evansville, IN, Kurt (Tami) Wanninger, Westfield, IN, Jason (Amy) Wanninger, Jasper, IN, and Mike (Tina) Wanninger, Clinton, IN, 12 grandchildren, Mary Jane, Jonathan, Laura, and Catherine Shafer, Samantha and Josh Wanninger, Ethan, Madeline, Abe, and Ruby Wanninger, and Isaac and Haley Wanninger, one brother, Don (Joan) Welp, Jasper, IN, one brother-in-law, Frank (Mary) Senninger, Ireland, IN, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death, are one grandson, Samuel Joseph Shafer, one sister, Darlene Senninger, and one brother, Gene (LaVerne) Welp.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Kathleen “Kathy” Wanninger will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church with entombment to follow in the Fairview Cemetery Mausoleum in Jasper, Indiana.
A visitation will be held from 2:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, Indiana, and one hour before services at the church from 9:00-10:00 a.m. The Ladies Sodality of Holy Family and the Jasper D of I will pray a combined rosary at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church Endowment Fund or to a favorite charity.
Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
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