Kayann Ardell (Pawelczyk) Kocian

On September 11, 2025, Kayann Ardell Kocian was finally reunited with her son Chip as she was welcomed home to her eternal resting place in Heaven. She joins her granddaughter Sarah Marks, her parents Leonard and Ardell Pawelczyk, her brother Ronald Pawelczyk, and Richard’s parents, Luella and Fred Kocian in the presence of Jesus.

Kayann was born in Oconto, WI on January 24, 1939 to Leonard and Ardell Pawelczyk. She attended grade school in Denmark and later relocated to Green Bay. Kayann graduated from East High School in 1957 and married the love of her life Richard Kocian. They recently celebrated 67 years of marriage together.

Kayann and Richard were blessed with five children- Kim (David) Wolfmeyer, Keely (Russell) Jensen, the late Richard Kocian Jr. (Chip), Kristin Weinstock, and James (Jill) Kocian. She will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Kayann loved the Green Bay Packers and was lucky to attend the famous Ice Bowl. She also enjoyed golfing and crafts. She was a lefty and cherished spending most of her time with her family. Kayann and Richard were fortunate to have a home in Chandler, Arizona and they spent many winters there with their friends. They also enjoyed vacationing in Destin, Florida.

Kayann lived her life in service to others, out of a deep and unwavering wellspring of love. In that overflow, she dedicated her heart to living out the words of Jesus in Luke 10:27- to love the Lord and to love our neighbors. Nearly sixty years ago when their first son Richard Kocian Jr. was born, physicians recommended institutionalizing him. Kayann and Dick instead insisted they would keep “Chip” – a nickname from ‘chip off the old block’- home with them. That one decision set the course of the Kocian family’s life and legacy which lives on today in children, grandchildren, and countless others who either witnessed firsthand or have benefited from those who did. She spoke of the 35 years raising Chip as some of the most sacred in her life. She said it was an honor to offer unconditional love, and she would have done it again without hesitation. She had a way of making people feel like part of the family instantly after meeting her. There were no conditions to receiving her loving kindness and she always spoke highly of others both publicly and privately. Kayann had a way of reminding us that we all are facing hard things and to offer grace rather than cast judgement. She was the first person we would want to talk to when good or bad things happened. We look forward to seeing her again one day while we carry on her beautiful legacy in our hearts and actions. She will be deeply missed by her loving husband, her children, her brother-in-law, Michael, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and many other relatives and special friends. The family would like to thank Dr. John C. Lewis, Dr. Nicholas Heezen, Dr. Danzhu Guo, Ledgeview Fire and Rescue, De Pere Fire and Rescue and Unity Hospice for their compassion.

Visitation will be held at Faith Lutheran Church (2335 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay, WI), Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9 to 11 AM. A funeral service will follow at 11AM. To view the livestream of the funeral service, please visit either the website (www.flcgb.com) or the Facebook page of Faith Lutheran Church. Entombment will be in Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum.