Kathlyn C. Mertz

Kathlyn C. Mertz (Schroeder), age 76, died peacefully at home on Monday morning, September 18, 2023, after battling cancer.

Kathlyn was born on June 24, 1947 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. She was the daughter of the late Ralph Schroeder and Mary (Taddy) Schroeder. Kathlyn graduated from Washington High School, Two Rivers in 1965. Afterward, she went on to further her education with a bachelor of science in medical technology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1969 and a master of arts in health care in 1979 from Central Michigan University in 1979. Kathlyn held credentials as both a Certified Health Education Specialist and a certified hypnotherapist. Her professional career spanned many years and found her in many different positions in the health and wellness field, including Bellin Health-Behavior Change Specialist, running her own certified clinical hypnotist practice, and even as a medical laboratory director in Swaziland, Africa. Kathlyn was also an avid volunteer, helping many organizations. Kathlyn did not want to slow down and always wanted to do more, be more, learn more, see more, teach more, and volunteer more.

Kathlyn enjoyed traveling, especially to foreign countries, dancing at concerts, cruises, long talks with friends, fireside parties, and long phone chats. She loved dancing with her long-time partner, Michael, about which she often reminisced, saying “Oh, how we danced!”

Kathlyn met Michael on September 15, 1965. They dated through their college years, sat for the Peace Corps exam together during the turbulent Viet Nam era, and both were accepted. Kathlyn stayed in the States to complete her Medical Technology internship at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Mount Sinai Hospital, while Michael went to Swaziland, Africa with the Peace Corps. Kathlyn joined Michael in Swaziland, where she worked as a private citizen running a small clinic in Mbabane as a Medical Technologist. Two days after the end of Michael’s second and final year of Peace Corps, the two were married in Mbabane, Swaziland on December 14, 1970. After over 3 years in Africa, the two left Swaziland for their 4-month “trip of a lifetime”: 21 stops that took them to 13 African countries and 8 European countries. Together, they even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Kathlyn is survived by her son, Adam (Lisa) Mertz, Pulaski; one granddaughter, Madeline Mertz; brothers and sisters Polly (Dean) Hardrath, Manitowoc, Kevin Schroeder, Mishicot, Mark (Cathy) Schroeder, Mishicot, Claire Schroeder, Two Rivers, and Mary Sue (Tom) Leland, Appleton; sister-in-law Peg Mertz, brother-in-law Andrew Mertz, brother-in-law Patrick (Valerie) Mertz; nieces and nephews, Dennis, Todd, Heather, Holly, Aaron, Josh, Rachel, Amy, Laura, Andrea, Jackie, Ryan, Jason, Eric, and Lucas; along with many other relatives and friends. Kathlyn was preceded in death by her loving husband Michael, mother-in-law Nathleen Mertz, brother-in-law Robert Mertz, and niece Heidi Nelson.

A celebration of life with open visitation time will be held at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens (2600 Larsen Rd., Green Bay, WI) between 2-5pm on Sunday, October 15, 2023. The family requests all who want to share their respects to come enjoy the garden that Kathlyn loved so much.

The family would like to thank the staff at Unity Hospice, Cornerstone Care Givers, and all the family and friends who have provided compassionate care to Kathlyn through her diagnosis.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association ( https://www.alz.org/ ) to help fight Alzheimer’s Disease, the illness that took Michael Mertz.