Kratz, Patricia Ardys (Hover) 1933 - 2022

KRATZ, HOVER, PETERSON, REDDIX, DEAN, ARCHONTOULIS, BOGERE, SOVEREIGN, IRVING, GREENE, STEINMETZ, BREISLER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/17/2022 at 16:23:40

Patricia “Patty” Kratz, age 89, of Decorah, died on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at Wellington Place in Decorah.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Peace Lutheran Church, 745 County St., Ridgeway, with Rev. Nathan Wicks presiding. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday at the church.

Patricia (Patty) Ardys Hover Kratz was born on December 11, 1933, in Winneshiek County to Maurice and Agnes (Peterson) Hover. She was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, Decorah, and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church, Ridgeway. She spent the first seven years of her life on a farm in Pleasant Township, then moved with her parents to Madison Township. She attended country school through eighth grade, after which she lived with her grandmother in Decorah so she could attend Decorah High School. At the end of her freshman year, her mother became ill, and Patty moved home to Madison Township to help care for her mother and younger siblings. During that time, she went to Ridgeway High School. At the end of her junior year, her parents moved to a farm near Decorah, and Patty transferred back to Decorah High School for her senior year, where she graduated in 1951.

At a dance in Spillville, Patty met the man of her dreams, Roger Kratz, and they were married in 1953. They moved to Ridgeway, where she formed many life-long friendships. In 1964, when her youngest child turned six, she started working as a teacher’s assistant at the Ridgeway Elementary School. She worked there until 1966 when she and Roger purchased the Ludwig Hardware Store in Ridgeway, changing the name to Kratz Hardware. Patty became an expert in hardware management and retail business, excelling in customer relations.

She loved helping the public and meeting new people. After eight years, she and Roger took another leap of faith, and turned their hardware store into a restaurant. In 1974, they opened the doors to Ridgeway’s newest café, The Koffee Kup. With courage and determination, along with a heaping dose of humor, Patty built a thriving restaurant, preparing delicious meals for the folks of Ridgeway and beyond. Fourteen years later, they sold The Koffee Kup, and Patty took a couple of years off. In 1990, she resumed her career, expanding her skills when she started working as a teller at the Cresco Union Savings Bank in Ridgeway, where she stayed until her retirement in 2001.

Throughout the years, in addition to her varied career, Patty volunteered as a First Responder for Winneshiek County, and regularly volunteered in community and church events. She was very active at Peace Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, a place she genuinely cherished. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, painting, designing stained-glass, traveling to visit her family, and of course, cooking and baking.

Patty is survived by her three children: Gary (Jodee) Kratz of Danbury, WI; Nancy (Michael) Reddix of Springboro, OH; and Timothy (Suzanne) Kratz of Spring Branch, TX. She has eight grandchildren: Laura (Joey) Dean of Amery, WI; Eric Kratz of Springhill, FL; Kevin (Maria Archontoulis) Kratz of Oslo, Norway; Kyle Kratz of Kingwood, TX; Emily Reddix of New York City, NY; Jonathan (Zijian) Reddix of Boston, MA; Brian (Holly) Kratz of Austin, TX; and Daniel (Samantha) Kratz of Houston, TX. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren: Kamilla Kratz of Austin, TX; Jordana Kratz of Springhill, TX; Cassandra Bogere of Oslo, Norway; and Brooklyn Dean of Crosslake, MN. In addition, she is survived by six siblings: Edward (Charilyn) Hover; David (Joan) Hover; Dale (Donna) Hover; Vicki (Gary) Sovereign; Randy (Lori) Hover; Mark (Jean) Hover; one brother-in-law: Alan (Robin Irving-Kratz) Kratz; and one stepbrother: Alan Greene; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death are her parents: Maurice and Agnes Hover; her parents-in-law: Herb and Gladys (Steinmetz) Kratz; a step father-in-law: Elmer Steinmetz; a stepmother: Norma Hover; a sister: LaDean Breisler; a brother: Quintin Hover; and two brothers-in-law: Donald Breisler; and Duane Kratz.

With love and affection, we will remember Patty for her tremendous kindness, friendly smile, embracing love, her ability to listen wit

Source: Decorah Newspapers Dec. 16, 2022