Kathryn Ann (Bewitz) Wackman

Age 81, of North Oaks, MN, passed away on November 2, 2025. Born in Wauwatosa, WI, Kathy was a creative, open-hearted soul with unmistakable style, wit, and energy. She believed life was meant to be felt-preferably with art, laughter, and the occasional dance on the table. A lifelong learner and University of Wisconsin-Madison alum, she cherished poetry, nature, collaging, unique jewelry, and meaningful conversation over a good meal.

Shoreview was home for 45+ years, yet the North Shore of Minnesota was her spirit's retreat-the art, the water, the wild northern air. Even in recent years, she continued to explore and create, taking a Japanese sumi painting workshop this past July and celebrating her 80th birthday with family in Grand Marais. A devoted supporter of artists, she lived by the belief: "If a piece of art touches you, buy it-it's speaking to your soul." Her home, filled with color and creativity, was proof.

To her grandchildren, she was a kindred spirit-lender of clothes, keeper of wisdom, pool-day companion, and a grandmother their friends wanted to meet. Kathy made strangers feel like friends, remembered names, hugged waitstaff, and carried a magic that made people feel seen. She lived with a rare gusto that left a mark.

Preceded in death by her parents, one sibling, and her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, Daniel B. Wackman, she is survived by her five children: Hillary (Ricardo) Wackman; John (Michele) Wackman; William (Beth) Wackman; Timothy (Ashley) Wackman; Gabrielle (Jason) Riess; her 11 grandchildren, and sister, Marilyn Raue.

A Celebration of Life open house will be held from 1:00-4:00pm on January 10, 2026 at Kellerman's Event Center, 2222 4th Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Donations in her honor may be made to the White Bear Center of the Arts at https://whitebeararts.org/give/ or The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota at https://wrcmn.org/donate.

Kathy's guiding truth: "If you follow all the rules, you miss all the fun."