Kathleen "Kathy" R. Vail

Surrounded by her family, Kathleen Robinson Vail, age 78, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 11, 2023. She was born in New Rochelle, NY on September 20, 1945, the third of four daughters to Robert and Helen (Nee: Hughes) Robinson. Kathy graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford, CT in 1963 and went on to earn an associates degree from Harper College. It was while working in New York City that she met the love of her life, Walter D. Vail, and on July 24, 1971, in Somers, NY, they were united in marriage. Kathy and Walter moved to the Midwest and raised their two daughters in Buffalo Grove, IL.

For the past 30 years, they have had homes in both Baileys Harbor, WI and Naples, FL, retiring to Racine, WI in 2020 to be close to family. It was in Baileys Harbor that Kathy owned and operated The Red Geranium – a gallery and gift shop. She enjoyed running the store in the summer months and basking in the Florida sun during the winter. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Racine and the Racine Yacht Club. She enjoyed spending time with her daughters and granddaughters, working in her garden and always being on the move. She will be remembered for her strong will, her homemaking skills and her ability to make friends everywhere she went. Above all, she treasured time spent with her family. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed.

Surviving are her loving husband of 52 years, Walter; daughters Jennifer (Benjamin) Vail Bongratz of Antioch, IL and Meredith Robinson Vail of Lake Bluff, IL; granddaughters Charlotte Mary and Elizabeth Anne Bongratz; sisters Patricia (Larry) Crowdis, Diane (Tom) Stevens, Ellen Robinson; in-laws Peter (Lyn) Vail, J. Seeley Booth, MaryEllen (Steven) Larocca; nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Anne Booth, nephew, Christopher Booth, and father and mother-in-law, Charles Hubert and Charlotte (Nee: Dredger) Vail.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St, Racine, WI, Saturday, January 6, 2024, 11 A.M. with Rev. Steve Varghese officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Friday at the funeral home for a visitation 4-7 P.M. and Saturday at the church 10-11 A.M. Flowers and memorials may be sent to the funeral home.

The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/meredithfuneralhome/