Catherine Jean Ross Van Buren

Catherine Jean Ross Van Buren was born on April 30, 1947 three minutes after her best friend and twin sister, Carol, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is the daughter of Franklin and Jeanette (Sommers) Ross. She died on September 14, 2022.

Catherine grew up in Brandon, Wisconsin. She graduated from Brandon-Fairwater High School in 1965 and Bellin School of Nursing in Green Bay. And then, she was off (!) to New York City as an intensive care nurse; to California as an IC and ED nurse. She worked for the CNA for a number of years and then went back to hospital nursing at Auburn Faith Hospital in Auburn, California. She was recruited to manage CCU at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Roseville, California. As one of her co-workers said, "She was so good, they gave her ED, too." She retired from RMC in 2003. Catherine was a talented, caring and intuitive nurse who was well-loved and admired by co-workers and patients. She was a teacher, mentor and role model for many people in the healthcare field

Catherine married Stephen Jensen, her "professor in bibs". He preceded her in death in 2002. She returned to Wisconsin after 38 years and reunited with and married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Van Buren, in 2004. They had 18 years of good times and adventures.

At the time of her death, she and Dennis were living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is survived by her husband, Dennis; twin sister, Carol Ross Heibel (Kelly)of Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin; sister Patty Nagle of San Angelo, Texas; and brother, Andy Ross (Linda) of Poynette, Wisconsin; loving and adoring nieces and nephews; Dennis' son, Jeff (Tiffany) and granddaughter, Hailey; and Dennis' Van Buren siblings.

Catherine died of resulting complications of uterine cancer.

Some words that describe Catherine: daring, funny, smart, smart, smart, brave, feisty, naughty, caring, effervescent. She is loved by many but rest assured, her "spirit with attitude" will live on in all of us.

The iconic girl from California. with the beautiful butterfly tattoo..

admired for her bravado...adored...always a shiny star...

forever bright. Hallelujah!

-Jo Barnes

There will be a celebration of her wonderful life at a later date. Cremation has taken place.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com