Kathleen Stake Obituary

Kathleen A. "Kam" Stake
October 3, 1950-May 22, 2025
Kathleen A. Stake (McCarthy), 74, of Warren, Ill., went home to her Lord and Savior on May 22, 2025, at SSM Health Hospice Home in Monroe, Wis.
Kam was born on October 3, 1950, in Syracuse, N.Y., the second of William and Kathleen (Fox) McCarthy's five children. Kam spent much of her childhood in Camillus, N.Y., before her family moved to the Milwaukee area. Kam graduated from Menomonee Falls High School in 1968 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, majoring in history. It was there that she met her dear husband of 55 years, Gregory Stake. The two were married on May 9, 1970, in Milwaukee. Kam and Greg settled in Warren, where they raised two sons: Mark and Matthew.
Once her sons were in school, Kam began working as a part-time teller at Warren Bank. This began her decades-long career in finance. Her knowledge, work ethic, and customer service skills enabled her to advance in her field. When she retired in 2017, Kam was vice president and senior trust officer of Union Savings Bank in Freeport, Ill.
A woman of deep faith, Kam was a long-time member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Warren, where she worked as parish secretary for a time. Her love for God and neighbor led her to volunteer in various capacities. She taught youth religious education at St. Ann for many years; was a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Illinois; and was on the board of directors for Freeport-based Malcolm-Eaton Enterprises, a non-profit organization serving people with developmental disabilities.
Kam enjoyed her volunteer work, camping, doing needle work, reading/listening to books, swimming, traveling with family and friends, and most recently, spending winters in Naples, Fla. with Greg. She was also an avid auto racing fan, attending the Indianapolis 500 with Greg since the 1970s.
Kam was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, who will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Kam is survived by her husband, Greg; her two sons, Mark (Jennifer) Stake, and Matthew (Melanie) Stake; four grandchildren, Maria, Sydney, Ariel, and Mitchell Stake; as well as her siblings, Mary Margaret "Meg" (Gene) Heyman, Anne (Ralph) Borecki, Daniel (Jan) McCarthy, and James (Sheryl) McCarthy. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Joseph (Judy) Stake, and Robert (Melody) Stake, and their children. She is further survived by her nephew, David (Philippa Hubbard} Heyman; and nieces, Katie and Ellie McCarthy; as well as her grandniece and grandnephew, Alice and Nicholas Heyman.
Kam was preceded in death by her parents; as well as her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Joyce (Stephens) Stake; and her sister-in-law, Mary Lou (John) Gundermann.
Services for Kam will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. Ann Parish in Warren, beginning with a recitation of the Rosary at 8:30 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a Mass of Christian burial beginning immediately thereafter.
Kam will be laid to rest at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery in Warren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Kam's name for donations to St. Ann Parish or Malcom Eaton Enterprises.
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