Katherine Halbur Obituary

Katherine Rose Halbur, 98, was called home to eternal life on Friday, July 18, 2025, at St. Francis Terrace, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She was born to Peter Matthias Gindt and Rose Veronica Wolfschmitt Gindt on July 8, 1927, in Leroy, Wisconsin. Katherine grew up on a dairy farm in Leroy with one sister, Margaret. She attended St. Andrew's Catholic Grade School, Leroy, and was a 1945 graduate of Mayville High School in Mayville, Wisconsin.

On May 29, 1948, Katherine married Bernard Henry Halbur at St. Mary's Church, Fond du Lac. Together they spent their entire lives in the agriculture industry. They owned and operated a dairy, Ka-Bern Farm, in the Town of Empire from 1948-1977 where Katherine was a right-hand person to Bernard. She could be found in the barn prepping cows to be milked, in the milkhouse washing up the milking equipment, or on the tractor unloading loads of hay. From 1977 until 2003, they operated a beef-steer/dairy-replacement operation. During this time, Bernard built up a DeKalb seed dealership where seed-pick-up days included a light lunch featuring Katherine's homemade donuts.

Katherine and Bernard were community minded. Their lifelong activities included county and state Farm Bureau, where they could be found opening the Farm Bureau Food Stand at the Fond du Lac County Fair for decades. Empire Township, St. Mary's Church, and Fond du Lac County 4-H were other organizations in which they invested their efforts. They especially cherished playing lively games of sheepshead and poker with family and friends and were deeply passionate about their time with the We Love to Dance Club. They met at a dance and danced their entire lives, almost until Bernard's passing on March 25, 2020, at almost 99 years of age. Through 71 years of marriage, Bernard and Katherine set an inspiring example, steadfastly persevering side by side through seasons of joy, hardship, and deep loss, their enduring love a guiding light to all who knew them.

Katherine was a homemaker extraordinaire, where she specialized in cooking, baking, canning, gardening and yard maintenance. One of her favorite things to do was pass her domestic skills, especially pie baking, down to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Even after her eyesight failed, she still enjoyed talking about cooking. Katherine loved listening to Milwaukee Brewers games on the radio; she didn't need to see to enjoy a game. In 2024, she proudly threw out the first pitch at a Brewers game, with many of her family and friends there to cheer her on.

Katherine is survived by her children, Pauline (Gene) Peters Kussart of Verona, Rose (Allen) Bertram of Fond du Lac, Ray (Rae Nell) Halbur of Fond du Lac, and John (Barbara) Halbur of Joliet, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Sandy Halbur, Mt Calvary; 12 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 13 step-great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Sr. Lucina (Monica) Halbur of Fond du Lac and Mary Halbur of Eden.

In addition to her husband, Bernard, Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, sons Peter and David, daughter Joann, son-in-law Jim Peters, grandson-in-law Sammie Harrill, sibling Margaret Gindt Rashid and her husband Jim, sisters-and brothers-in-law Rita (Bill) Steinhilber, Mary (Lawrence) Peshman, Greg (Priscilla) Halbur, Norbert Halbur, Sr. Constance Halbur, and Sr. Bernadette Halbur.

SERVICES: Katherine's husband, Bernard, passed away in 2020 during COVID restrictions; so, there was no visitation or funeral. Therefore, visitation honoring both Katherine and Bernard will be on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at Zacherl Funeral Home, Fond du Lac. A rosary vigil will be prayed at 7 p.m. A visitation will also be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, Fond du Lac, on Friday, Aug. 8, from 9-11 a.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial for Katherine and Bernard will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 at Holy Family Catholic Church. Katherine will be laid to rest next to her husband, Bernard, in Calvary Cemetery, Fond du Lac.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of St Francis Terrace for their loving care of our Mother.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.

We pray that Katherine's eyesight is now restored, that she can dance, again, with her favorite partner, Bernie, and celebrate with Pete, Joann, and David in their eternal home. Well done good and faithful servant. Rest in peace, Mom. Until we meet again.