Paula A. Licht, 47, of Cameron died on Monday, March 31, 2008, at her home, surrounded by her family. She bravely battled a rare and incurable cancer throughout the last year, showing incredible strength up to the end.

She was born on Oct. 14, 1960, in Milwaukee to Donald Katterhagen and Norma (Semanko) Blessing. Later in her childhood her family moved to Cadott and then settled in Boyd. Paula completed elementary and middle school in Boyd and during her time at Stanley-Boyd High School she broke several track records.

Growing up in a small farming community, Paula had three life goals: to get married, and become a farm wife, and mother. She achieved all of these goals early in her life. At the age of 15 she met her future husband Kelsey Licht, while babysitting for his cousins. The couple got engaged on her 16th birthday and married on June 4, 1977. Within two years they had taken over the Licht family farm and the first of two children was born.

Raising and caring for children was a large part of Paula's life and she was perfectly suited for it. She had the type of personality that attracted the attention and respect of children and adults alike. She especially enjoyed teaching young children and had great patience to do so. In her youth, she frequently babysat and spent two summers as a nanny. Once her own children were born, she stayed home for several years to raise them before entering the workforce once they went off to school.

After several jobs, Paula returned to doing what she loved and did best: caring for children. When her family relocated to the Rice Lake area in 1992, Paula answered an ad and started taking care of Brian and Michele West's three young children. She continued to work for them until all three entered school.

Soon after, Paula began working for the Rice Lake School District as a kindergarten and recess aide at Franklin Elementary. She greatly enjoyed her time with all the children there during five years of service, which ended when the school closed. Most recently. she again answered an ad this time to serve as a nanny for Jon and Bridget Gargulak's famity-which grew from two to four children during her time with them.

Paula is survived by: her husband, Kelsey; and daughter, Courtney of Cameron; her son, Benjamin of Arlington, Va.; her mother, Norma Blessing of Rice Lake; her brothers, Donald, Eugene, and Michael Katterhagen of Rice Lake, and Patrick Katterhagen of Eau Claire; her sisters Vironica Davis and Dianne Bennett of Rice Lake; and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. Paula is also survived by the children for whom she provided care and loved as her own: Barron, Lauren, and Morgan West, and Thomas, Bennett, Ava, and Ellyn Gargulak of Rice Lake. She will be fondly and forever remembered by those who survive her as well as countless other friends and acquaintances whose lives she touched.

Her family will receive visitors from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at the Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Home in Cameron.

A memorial service will be held at the same location starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 4, officiated by Rev. Reginald Licht. A private family interment will take place later this spring at Union Cemetery in Edson. There she will rest near the places where all her dreams came true: the cemetery is located next to the church in which she was wed and down the road from the Licht family farm.

Source - Chippewa Herald - Apr 1, 2008

Source - Photo courtesy of Find-a-Grave member #47093694.