Kay Ann Reiman

Kay Ann Reiman, 80, peacefully passed away at Hillview Health Care Center surrounded by her family on January 22, 2019, after a short illness. Kay was born on November 5, 1938, to Ruth (Bautsch) and Elmer Eide. She graduated from Central High School in 1956 and then from St Francis School of Nursing in 1959. She married Tony Reiman in 1960 and they had five children together. She used her nursing degree in her career in several positions, working for St. Francis Hospital in OB, then as evening RN supervisor at Hillview Home, and finally the IV Team at Gundersen.

An accomplished pianist, Kay went back to school as an adult to pursue her love of music and earned her bachelor’s degree from Viterbo in Music in 1992, graduating summa cum laude. She then taught piano at Leithold’s from 1992 until the present. Many of her students earned A’s at State Music Competitions and Solo and Ensemble and went on to pursue music studies. She loved classical music with her favorite composer being Chopin. She continued to perform at her student piano recitals throughout her music career, especially loving the duets she played with her students, children and grandchildren.

Kay was very inquisitive and knowledgeable. Her first love was being on the water, catching the total limit of panfish in the sloughs of the Mississippi or pursuing the elusive giant bass she named “Herman” at a lake up north she visited every year. She captured “Oscar” the less elusive big bass and he is on her wall today. Kay also had an extraordinary green thumb, with the ability to coax the most reluctant plant into bloom. She made growing roses look easy and her tomatoes and cucumbers were legendary. She delighted in birds and could name any species that traveled through Wisconsin. The daily crossword and sudoku were one of Kay’s hobbies as well. Later in life, she also pursued her interest in gemstones and passed on many items to children and grandchildren.

Kay loved being with family and special friends. She felt most comfortable among close family and kept strong ties to her mother, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Kay had been active and independent up until the time of her illness, still teaching piano lessons one day a week.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two brothers, Robert (Charlene) Eide of Franklin, Wisconsin, and Jim (Connie) Eide of La Crosse; her five children, Barbara (Rick) Langen of New Lisbon, Anne (Jim) Kuschel of La Crosse, Ellen (Mark) Van Pay of Green Bay, John (Lisa) Reiman of Green Bay and Becky (Paul) DeGarmo of Chaseburg; thirteen grandchildren, Angela (Todd) Hartman of Oxnard, California, Laura Langen of Denver, Colorado, Greg (Sophie) Langen of Rochester, New York, A.J. (Ali) Kuschel of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Zach (Emily) Kuschel of La Crosse, Carrie Kuschel of Milwaukee, Emmy Kuschel of La Crosse, Andy (Annika) Van Pay of Madison, Erin Van Pay of Los Angeles California, Michael and Abigail Reiman of Green Bay, Ruby and Meredith DeGarmo of Chaseburg; and seven great grandchildren, River and Weston Hartman; Kaylee, Evee and Noah Kuschel; and Elam and Finn Kuschel.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 28, at Schumacher Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Rev. Brian D. Konopa will officiate. Burial will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse.

The family would like to extend many thanks to the staff of the ICU and the Bronchopulmonary unit at Gundersen Health System and to the staff of Hillview Health Care Center for their kind and attentive care.