Kathleen Ingala Obituary (1949 - 2005)

KATHLEEN L. INGALA Kathleen Louise Ingala, age 56, of Menomonie, Wisconsin, formerly of Oshkosh, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 at the Dunn County Health Care Center in Menomonie. The former Kathleen Carey was born on March 8, 1949 in Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Robert Ellis Carey and Irene Eleanor Carey (Savela). Due to her father's military career in the U.S. Army, Kathy lived in both Europe and various cities in the U.S.A. She received her grade school education in Italy, Germany, Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota. Kathy attended Roosevelt Junior High School, Oshkosh and graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1967. She started studies of English and drama at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh and graduated from Edgewood College, Madison, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in January, 1972. During college Kathy joined the Army ROTC program and she was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Women's Army Corps in January 1973. After WAC Officer Training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, she was one of the first WAC officers to complete joint training with male officers at the U.S. Army Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Further duty stations followed at Fort Hamilton, New York and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was honorably discharged from active duty in the U.S. Army in January 1975. Kathleen married John J. Ingala on June 3, 1972 at Madison. After completion of her military service, Kathy and John made their home in Redondo Beach, California until returning to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Kathy studied nursing and archaeology at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh during 1978 and 1979. In 1987 Kathy moved to Menomonie to accept a job with Stout University as Manager of the Human Relations Department, where she specialized in labor relations and personnel matters for classified (civil service) employees at University of Wisconsin - Stout. In 2001, after helping put together the nomination application package, Kathy was selected to be part of the Stout delegation to travel with the University Chancellor to Washington, D.C. and receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Excellence in Education from President George W. Bush. Kathy was a life long lover of the arts. She was very involved in choir, theater and musical productions in younger years. She performed in the Edgewood Summer Theater at Baraboo for several seasons as well as with the Oshkosh Junior Theater. In later years she enjoyed movies and going to theatrical and musical performances as well as to museums. Throughout her life Kathy was an avid reader, a skilled writer and an eager traveler. Another side of Kathleen was her selfless involvement in maintenance projects and teaching Vacation Bible School for the natives of McKenzie Island, Canada, in 1993, 1994 and 1995 with LAMP, the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots. Kass is survived by her brother, Robert (Gisela) Carey, a nephew Christopher and a niece Susanna, all of Schwalbach, Germany and a brother-in-law Alan Chaganos of Neenah, Wisconsin and two nieces, Rachel and Mary, as well as many friends, relatives and acquaintances in the Menomonie and Twin Cities areas in addition to Pennsylvania, Nevada and California. Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Irene Carey, as well as her sister, Patricia Anne Chaganos (Carey). .....continued A memorial service is planned for Thursday September 29, 2005 at 11:00 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Rev. Bob Friese officiating. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday, September 30th at 11:00 AM. Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie is handling the arrangements. Those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider the American Red Cross or Salvation Army relief funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.