Kathleen Ione Cooley

Kathleen Ione Cooley passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026, in Hudson, Wisconsin. 

Kathleen was born in Hartford, Wisconsin, the daughter of Alex Mellenthien and Marian (Washburn) Mellenthien. Her family moved to Madison when she was a young girl. She graduated from East High School in 1947 and married Keith Cooley on August 16, 1951, when they eloped to Dubuque, Iowa.

Kathleen was a devoted wife and mother and loved music and dancing. She sang in the First Methodist Choir for 48 years and served as a docent at the Governor’s Mansion for many years. Kathleen and Keith enjoyed travelling and attending musicals. After Keith lost his eyesight in 2002, she devoted herself to his care, and the two of them enjoyed a close relationship. She moved to Hudson, WI in 2021 to be closer to family.

Her family deeply appreciates the loving, devoted care she received at the Christian Community Homes.

Kathleen is survived by her four children, Cindy (Bill) Gleason, Kevin (Vicki) Cooley, Todd (Michelle) Cooley, and Anne (Bryan) Pesczak; her brother, Lynn (Judy) Mellenthien; five grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Christian Community Homes (Hudson) in the Atrium on July 17, 2026, with a visitation at 4:00pm and service at 5:00pm. Burial will be at Roselawn Memorial Park in Madison, WI at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Christian Community Homes: https://cch-seniorliving.org/give-now/.

Services are entrusted to O'Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hudson. For more information or to share a memory, please visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-386-3725.