Kathleen "Kate" Mulvaney

Kathleen Mary Mulvaney, a long-time resident of Eau Claire, WI, passed peacefully in her sleep on February 17, 2026, with her daughter Kirsten at her side.

Born in 1946 in Battle Creek, Michigan, Kate was raised in Clintonville, WI, Traverse City, Michigan, and Marshfield, WI. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a major in Elementary Education and minors in Psychology and Library Science.

Kate taught elementary school in Eau Claire and Arbor Vitae/Woodruff, WI. She was a Librarian and Media Resource Specialist in Altoona and taught Film Animation through the UW Eau Claire extension.

After teaching, Kate used her organizational and creative skills at WEAU-TV, Eau Claire, where she worked in marketing for 35 years, retiring in 2015. She made lifelong friends at the TV station and was a treasured mentor to many.

Kate loved traveling, shunpiking, kayaking, golfing, concert-going, scavenger hunts, playing cards and Scrabble, and even started a book club and breakfast club that have continued for over 35 years.

In retirement, Kate became involved in the local art community, joining the Valley Art Association, where she became a board member, sketching with the Urban Sketchers, and painting with the Chippewa Valley Watercolor Artists and the Watercolor Wednesday group. She enjoyed creating art in multiple media, inspiring other artists with her unique ideas, and participating in her first art show at the Heyde Center in 2025.

Above all, Kate loved her daughter Kirsten, granddaughter Zumi, and grandson Eiji, and treasured their visits together, especially working on art projects and playing games.

She was formerly married to James Fering (deceased) of Eau Claire and Thomas J. Lee of Lac du Flambeau. Kate was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary (Duersten) Mulvaney.
She is survived by her daughter Kirsten Fering, grandchildren Zumi and Eiji Fering-Yoshioka, as well as her brothers Michael Mulvaney of Novi, Michigan, and J. Patrick Mulvaney (Sharon) of Fishers, Indiana.

Kate’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 21 at 10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Clearwater Hall at the Pablo Center in Eau Claire.

Many thanks to St. Croix Hospice, Marshfield Cancer Center, and the Classic at Hillcrest Greens for their care.

Memorials may be sent to Feed My People Food Bank, 2610 Alpine Rd., Eau Claire, WI 54703.

Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com. Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family with the arrangements.  

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