Kathryn Bartol

Kathryn W. Bartol of Port Washington was an independent woman throughout her life.

She began working at Simplicity Manufacturing in Port Washington when she was 16, and was proud to have worked her way up to executive secretary for owner William Niederkorn.

“She was the only person I knew who knew how to do shorthand,” her nephew Dick Krier said.

She worked at the Port Washington lawn and garden equipment manufacturer for more than 50 years, retiring when she was about 62.

But Ms. Bartol was more than just a secretary. Although she never married, she was a doting aunt to her nieces and nephews.

“She was like a second mother to me and my brothers,” her nephew said. “She lived with our family when we were young, then moved to the Sturm Apartments (on Montgomery Street) about two blocks from our house.

“We were always over there. She would take us places. She would host sleepovers. She was always there, in good times and bad. You could always count on her.”

Ms. Bartol died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on Thursday, June 20, at the Harbor Club, where she had lived since 2015. She was 89.

She was a lifelong resident of Port Washington, born in the city on Dec. 13, 1929, the daughter of Henry and Rose Paulus Bartol.

She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Port Washington High School.

“She was very private, but very independent,” her nephew said. “She never wanted to be a burden on anyone. She loved living alone.”

But she was also active and friendly, making many friends after moving to the Harbor Club, her family said.

Ms. Bartol had a mind for politics and current events, her nephew said.

“She was very engaged,” he said. “She was a great person.”

She enjoyed relaxing in her yard and working in her garden, where she grew such flowers as snapdragons and lilies, her nephew said.

Ms. Bartol loved living in Port Washington, watching the changing seasons and Lake Michigan.

She was a member of St. John XXIII Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Ms. Bartol is survived by her sister Lucille Weidner, who lived across the hall from her at the Harbor Club, as well as her nieces and nephews, Richard (Lisa) Krier of Port Washington, Paul (Penny) Krier of Belgium, Mary (Edward) Michael of Chicago, Charles (Linda) Weidner of Grafton, Clare Weidner of Belgium, Ann (Jim) Boulay of Minneapolis, John (Caroline) Weidner of South Carolina and Virginia Clark of Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Rose, sister Lorraine Krier, brother John Bartol, brother-in-law Walter Weidner, nephews Tom, Scott and Wally Krier, niece Sandy Blades and nephew-in-law Jim Clark.

A memorial service for Ms. Bartol will be held at noon Saturday, June 29, at Poole Funeral Home and Crematory in Port Washington. Pastoral Associate Kelly Lemens will officiate.

Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the service.

Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington.