Kelly D. Milbauer

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Kele (Wilkens) Milbauer, 35, of Wausau, Wis. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, a day as bright and as sunny as her personality, after a sudden and severe illness.

Kele was born on August 9, 1988, in Chicago, Ill., and eventually went into foster care with a family who loved her dearly and adopted her at the age of 3. After moving to Wisconsin, she spent the majority of her childhood in the Fond du Lac area.

Kele moved to the central Wisconsin area and celebrated with Karl Barth the arrival of her oldest daughter, Zoee, in 2010. In 2017, she met her future husband, Eli Milbauer, and the couple married and had their daughter, Mollie "Mo" Milbauer, in 2019. Even though separated, she worked alongside both fathers to create the best environment for her daughters and beamed with pride as both girls accomplished different milestones.

Kele was very active in Mollie's education and was appointed president of the Policy Council for Headstart of Marathon County in 2023.

Throughout the years, Kele searched for biological family members and with the help of social media, was able to reconnect by finding her biological sister, Jaimy, in 2020. During Covid shutdowns, the sisters communicated via messages and phone calls and eventually met in person forming a close bond that lasted the rest of Kele's life.

Kele thrived in the culinary world and loved her job at Dilly Dally Deli, a catering company in Stevens Point, Wis. She was excited to work with her friends Amy, Michelle and Casie and she left her creative flair and touch on every job she completed. She shared a lot of hopes and dreams to make the small catering business a success.

Her open, friendly, larger-than-life personality charmed all those who met Kele and she was known for a great sense of humor. She loved being creative with painting her nails and she had a movie collection that put Blockbuster to shame. Kele enjoyed tanning and going for massages as well as swimming and relaxing in hot tubs. If she had to stay home, she preferred "Mermaid Time" which was drawing a bubble bath and watching one of her million movies as she had installed a television in the bathroom.

She took pride in her safari collection of knick knacks and her affinity for leopard print and the color teal goes unmatched as she created the best possible home.

Her charismatic voice brings a smile to those who can hear it in their mind.

Kele is survived by her loving daughters Zoee and Mollie; parents Tim and Terri Wilkens; siblings Aaron (Toni) Ruswick; Jenny (Tim) McClyman; Peggy Culotta; Holly Petty; Jaimy Creson; Taylor (Brian) Diedrich; and Zach Wilkens; grandparents Marge Wilkens and Kathy Bennot; close friend Amy Van Meter; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Kele's memory on Saturday, June 22, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m. at Dilly Dally Deli at 2300 B, Strongs Ave., Stevens Point, Wis. We welcome everyone who loved Kele to attend and join in sharing memories of her.

Kele, you are and will be missed beyond what you ever imagined.