Kimberly Sue Kuklinski

Kimberly Sue Kuklinski, 33, of Hatley, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at home in the care and loving arms of her Aunt Rose & Uncle Mike Buchkowski. She was born June 4, 1984, in Wausau, daughter of Edward "Eddie" and Lori (Rucinski) Kuklinski. Kimberly was a proud D.C. Everest graduate, class of 2003. There she found her favorite class, marketing with Mrs. Peterson, and became her DECA chapter's president. This led her to pursue a degree in Marketing from Upper Iowa University. During high school she worked at her dream job, crafting sundaes, at Culver's. She then went on to spend 10 years working at Cellcom, sometime in the banking industry in Green Bay and finally at UMR. Kimberly was a beautifully creative person. She enjoyed painting, coloring with her niece, and loved to arrange arts & crafts for the young children at family events. She loved decorating for Christmas, artfully placing ornaments and creating a show stopping display in the living room. She loved to spend time with her family, especially her niece and nephews, taking them to movies, creating tiny villages under the pine trees in the yard and convincing them that the Smurf's lived there, and fostering their own creativity. She always wanted to help others and was an instrumental part of getting the Livestrong program started at the local YMCA, and was not only a participant, but also spent time volunteering to help other Thrivers. And above all, she loved her family. Kimberly didn't like to refer to her time spent with cancer as a "battle" or a "fight", she always called it a "dance". Lori was always her best dance partner, but when her Mama Bear needed to take a rest, there was always someone there to step in. Kimberly led her dance with many friends and family over the last nine years. She danced in Chicago, at Rush University Medical Center, where she had 2 surgeries, including her first on March 30, 2009. She danced in Milwaukee, at Froedtert Hospital, with Dr. Stadler and Dr. Wong. And she danced in Wausau, at Aspirus, with Dr. Ahuja. Some special thanks are needed for these amazing doctors and their teams, as well as the members of her hospice care (specifically Carrie Perry and Flora Jerde), Northcentral Health Care Center for their support and allowing Lori and Tiffany to take the time they needed with Kimberly, and all of the people and businesses that showed their support and donated to the benefits held for Kimberly through the years. She has touched the lives of hundreds and truly enjoyed bringing joy into this world. Kimberly said that butterflies were loved ones that come back to visit and make sure everything is okay, so when you see a butterfly, please think of her. She is survived by her parents, Eddie and Lori, one sister, Tiffany (Troy) Pluger, a niece, Piper, and twin nephews, Liam and Blaine; grandparents, Tony and MaryAnn (Buchkowski) Kuklinski, all of Hatley, and Daniel Rucinski, Mosinee; aunts and uncles, Richard (Susie) Rucinski, David (Bobbie) Rucinski, Mary (Armand) Carver, Diane (Gerry) Kuhr, Joyce Nechuta, Tammy (Mark) Bennett, Bill (Christine) Rucinski, Sue St. Germain, and Jean (Duzer) Pochinski; and best friend since childhood, Amanda Kluck. She is also survived by several loving great aunts and great uncles, many cousins, other relatives, and wonderful friends. A special thank you to Tammy and Susie for their extra support over the years with attending many of Kimberly's numerous appointments. Kimberly was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Patricia "Patsy" (Nemke) Rucinski; great uncles Al Buchkowski, Tom Hessey, and Gary "Poncho" Kuklinski; great aunts Darlene Berlik and Virginia Pochinski; uncles Richard "Kooba" Ryskiewcz and Jerry Nechuta; and her cousins, Sierra Buchkowski and Dustin Pochinski. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on April 5th, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Florian Catholic Church, Hatley. Rev Greg Bohren will preside. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Kimberly's name. It is asked that you honor Kimberly's creative spirit and bright soul by not wearing black, but instead something colorful. "I always knew that in another life I could fly, which is why in this life, I dance." -from the TV series, Dance Academy Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkramer.com