Cathty with Cheesy
Visitation and a Memorial Service to celebrate Catherine’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 787 8th St., Baraboo, WI. Service at 11 a.m. with a lunch to follow. Pastor Karen Hofstad will officiate.
Catherine Dreifke was born 4/22/30 in Baraboo, WI. Her parents were John N. and Helen L. Niles. Catherine was the oldest of 12 children born into this family. Catherine was naturally the caretaker of her younger siblings for many years until she married Robert L. Dreifke on March 9, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church, LaValle, WI. Catherine and Robert lived in several places throughout their more than 50 years of marriage from LaValle to Windsor to Florida and finally in Baraboo.
Catherine had many interests including loving animals of all kinds, but especially her cats and birds. She loved taking care of people as evidenced by her many years of caregiving to her siblings, later her mother, her own five children and even her grandchildren.
After Catherine’s daughter Cynthia received a traumatic brain injury from an automobile accident, Catherine devoted herself to caring for her daughter, but also spent countless hours advocating for new brain trauma legislation which was finally signed into law in 1986. This new law assisted people and families who suffered from traumatic brain injury to obtain funding so badly needed.
Catherine was preceded in death by both her parents, John and Helen Niles, her husband Robert L. Dreifke, her daughter Cynthia L. Dreifke, her son Franklin Dreifke, and her brothers, David Niles, Gordon Niles, & Philip Niles.
Catherine is survived by her sons Robert J. (Marlene) Dreifke; Mark Dreifke, Nathan (Brenda) Dreifke; grandsons Ryan Dreifke, Andrew Dreifke, Nathan Dreifke, Anthony Dreifke, step grandson Christopher Schroud and step granddaughter, Karrie Landsverk; great grandchildren Sydney and Ryan Dreifke and step grandchildren Aubrey Schroud, Reese and Riley Landsverk. Catherine is also survived by her brothers and sisters; John Niles Jr. (Ginger), Judy (Niles) Sutton, Janice (Niles) Ward (Jerry), Martha (Niles) Harding, Barbara (Niles) Smith, Paula (Niles) Blake (Tom), Chris (Niles) Wilder (Ken), Steven Niles (Helen).
Catherine and her father, John, were stricken by polio. Catherine was just a baby when this happened. It never slowed her down and she lived a long and purposeful life which is her legacy to her children and grandchildren.