August 7, 1924 – November 8, 2025
Katherine “Kay” Warren Holtz, 101, of Kenosha, died at Aurora Medical Center in Hospice Care on Saturday, November 8, 2025. Kay was born at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL, on August 7, 1924, to Lillian Jonas Warren. Kay and her sister Barbara were raised in Glencoe, IL, by their Mother Lillian, and lived with their grandparents, Henry Edward and Hedwig Jonas. She attended New Trier High School and graduated in June 1942. During junior high and high school, Kay loved math, drawing, and intramural sports, including field hockey, basketball, volleyball, and softball. She attended Lawrence College in Appleton, WI, and belonged to the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She graduated in 1945.
Kay worked for the Natural Gas Pipeline Company in Chicago from 1945 to 1947. She met Roth Brewin Holtz at her sister’s wedding. When Roth returned from World War II, they became reacquainted and were married in Glencoe, IL, on August 16, 1947, at the North Shore Methodist Church. The couple raised three daughters in Evanston, IL. While raising their children, Kay worked at the Student Finance Department at Northwestern University, where she was employed for over 20 years. One of her accomplishments that she was most proud of was doing the yearly Big Ten Report. When Roth and Kay retired, they moved to Clearwater, FL, where they lived for 11 years. In 2000, Roth and Kay moved to Kenosha to live closer to one of their daughters. They eventually moved to Library Terrace in 2019, where they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. Shortly after, Roth passed away at the age of 97. Kay celebrated her 100th and 101st birthdays while living at Library Terrace. Throughout her life, Kay enjoyed sewing, playing cards and bingo, writing poetry, and completing puzzles.
Kay is survived by daughters Barbara (Benjamin) Richason of St. Cloud, MN, Carrie DeSantis of Kenosha, WI, and Gail Williams of Peachtree City, GA; grandchildren Jennifer (Glen), Andrew (Andrea), Sarah (Guillermo), Sandy (Jody), Nicholas (Adam), Michael (Misty), Kelly, Maurice, Lindsay Thompson, and Brian Kattner; great-grandchildren William, Annabelle, Macy, and Eliza; and several nieces and nephews.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband Roth, grandparents Edward and Hedwig, mother Lillian, sister Barbara (Gordon) Eckstrand, son-in-law Tony DeSantis, grandson Bradley Thompson, and granddaughter Ann DeSantis Kattner.
The family would like to thank the staff at Library Terrace Assisted Living, who have lovingly cared for Kay and Roth Holtz.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Proko Funeral Home, with services commencing at 6:00 p.m. Interment will be private in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Children’s, P.O. Box 1510, Ranson, WV 25438, or Lawrence University, 711 E Boldt Way, Appleton, WI 54911.
