Kathleen Ann Mankowski

Kathleen “Kate” Ann Mankowski (nee Kitty Jansen), 80, died peacefully Monday, January 19, 2026 in her Waukesha home surrounded by her family.

Born December 19, 1945 to Robert H. Jansen and Evelyn Widish Jansen in West Allis, Kate studied Linguistics at Alverno College, worked in Real Estate with her father, Bob Jansen, for many years before passionately devoting herself to Cable Television before it was popular, eventually retiring from Time Warner Cable.

In fact, Kate met her husband, Tom, over the phone by chance one evening while working at Time Warner Cable. They eventually met in person which led to their marriage in 1999.

One of her favorite times of the day was when her daughter, Peg, would come over to talk about everything and nothing while drinking coffee, a beloved morning routine.

Kate loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren fiercely – spending time with them, spoiling them, and watching them grow and do amazing things. She was so proud of the wonderful mothers Cori and Kaila have become and with the help of their supporting spouses.

Kate had a constant hunger for knowledge, learning how things worked and how they were put together. Once she figured it out, it was on to the next project. She taught herself to sew her own clothing to stay thrifty, later taking up the task of constructing multiple Renaissance style outfits for her daughter, Peg and Gene’s Renaissance wedding in 2000.

A voracious reader, loving all genres – especially science fiction, once Kate discovered online audio books, the game was on. Her love of language was evident in her sense of humor, word play, and no excuses for bad grammar. She’d always be cheerful – “just peachy” – and could start up friendly conversations with any stranger she’d meet.

Kate was known for her love of ladybugs, her home being decorated with so many of them you’d never have to turn your head to spot one. She loved going to thrift stores not just for savings but for the thrill of discovering something amazing, often saying “you never know what you might find.” She was known to wear a silk scarf to match every outfit, a signature look she took seriously.

In her retirement years, she took up Tai Chi, making good friends and participating in local classes in addition to studying Spanish to keep her brain sharp. Beading became a passion in 2015, she really enjoyed making something beautiful and ordered out of the chaos of many beads.

Kate always put everyone else first. She would have a kind word ready even in the worst of situations and give everyone the benefit of the doubt. She supported anything that a loved one was passionate about and was endlessly proud of their accomplishments.

She quietly battled cancer for 18 years, not drawing attention to how she was truly feeling, a strong woman warrior who would receive treatment while still working and living life to the fullest. She rarely complained about her situation and always thanked her care team for saving her life.

Kate is preceded in death by her son, Michael Summers (James McCorkle). She is survived by her husband, Thomas Mankowski, daughter, Peg Nygren (Gene), son, Patrick Summers (Kara), grandchildren Erik Nygren, Debra Nygren, Aszya Summers, Jessaca Summers, Cori Burke (Ryan) and Kaila Roche (Jr.), and great-grandchildren Aubrey Burke, Easton Burke, Immanuel Roche, Isaiah Roche and Isabella Roche.

Kate leaves behind many other family members and friends who will miss her “fiercely.”

Visitation will take place at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM with service at 12:00 PM, reception to follow.

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