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Katye Rueth - A Journey

Katherine Jane Rueth was born on the south side of Milwaukee on February 23, 1935. She and her family, along with younger brother John, lived on the first floor of a duplex built by her grandfather. Her father's sister, Anita, and her grandmother lived on the second floor. Later, Katye and her family moved to Burleigh Street where she graduated from Washington High School in January of 1953. After high school she attended a semester of Layton School of Art then went on to Milwaukee State Teacher's College where, in 1955, she received an Oxbow Scholarship. Her education was interrupted when she married John Rueth and had four children. Residing in Wauwatosa, she returned part-time to college, and earned a bachelor's degree in Art Education in 1966.

The family then moved to an old farm house in Rubicon, Wisconsin. Katye and John raised their family - infused with a number of horses, dogs, cats, bunnies, and fish. She began teaching at Harford Union High School in 1967. It was then that she was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. She continued her education earning an MA in Art Education in 1976. Katye's love and dedication to her students made her an inspirational art teacher for over 18 years. Diabetes forced her into retirement in 1986, but her creativity continued to flourish. Her disease slowly devastated her body with diabetic-related arthritis, neuropathy, heart disease and kidney failure. Despite undergoing kidney dialysis, Katye continued to push herself everyday - managing to create a colorful, lively retrospective show at the Charles Allis Art Museum. Three weeks later, she received the ultimate gift of life - a kidney transplant extending her life for another decade. Katye's love for life will be greatly missed by those blessed to have known her.

Here are some highlights from the show: