(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Natasha Marie Rutchik, age 38 a resident of Kenosha, died peacefully at her residence on Sunday May 4th, 2025.
She was born on November 9th, 1986, in Kenosha.
She was educated in local schools, having attended Frank Elementary, Washington Middle, and graduated from Indian Trail High School with honors. She graduated from UW Lacrosse with a BS in Psychology. She interned with Children’s Oncology Services in Chicago and with Samantha Bay Wilson in St. Augustine FL.
Tasha also loved her time waitressing at George Webb and was adored by many. Most recently she was employed at her family business, JR Properties, as the office manager, and was the successful owner of Auntie Tashie’s Dog Sitting. She loved all animals, especially wiener dogs.
She was an active volunteer with many organizations including Kenosha Trash Trotters, Kenosha Welcome Center and Women in Motion.
She was honored to be a speaker at the Relay for Life in Kenosha in 2022.
Music was an important part of her life and she loved volunteering at the Pennoyer Park Bandshell. She loved downtown Kenosha and was often seen frequenting the local coffee shops. Some people lovingly called her the “mayor of downtown”.
She was an avid photographer who loved to take pictures of local scenery. She greatly enjoyed watching birds and reading books that she discussed with friends and family.
She had a passion for travel and cherished the fond memories of her trips to Spain visiting her dear friend Bob Abell.
Her Christian faith became a cornerstone in her life and guided her with compassion and hope through every season.
She is survived by her adoptive parents John and Shelley (Nudi) Rogowski, her brother Tyler Rogowski, her birth father Thomas Rutchik, Grandma Darles Rogowski, Aunt Pat (Drew) Berben, Aunt Mary (Tab) Canestorp Aunt Cheryl (Jim) McPhaul, Aunt Kathy (Dave) Meyer, as well as many other aunts, uncles and cousins. Tasha was loved and will be missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her birth mother Debra (Maegaard) Rutchik, Nana Kay Bennett, Grandpa Ralph Nudi, Grandpa John Rogowski, Grandma Marlene Nudi, Uncle Brent Nudi, Aunt Barb Hosier, and her beloved wiener dog Peaches.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Tuesday May 13th, 2025, at 5:00PM at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Kenosha. (5601-Washington Road, on the corner of HWY 142 and Green Bay Road) Visitation with the family will take place on Tuesday at the church from 3:00PM until the time of service. A private burial will take place the next morning, Wednesday May 14th, 2025, at St. George Catholic Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Kenosha Forgotten Friends or The Hope Lodge at 411 2nd street NW Rochester, MN 55901
Casey Family Options Funerals & Cremations
3016 75th Street Kenosha WI 53142
262-653-0667
www.caseyfamilyoptions.com
Mon - Fri: 8AM - 4PM
(262) 653-0667
3016 75th Street, Kenosha, WI 53142
Kathleen Grissom says:
What will I do without my sweet friend? I will miss you bunches. I know that you’re out of pain and whole with our Lord and savior. I am hoping Peaches was there to meet you. I will remember you strength and sense of humor. I ❤️ you Tasha. I will always love you. ❤️
Angie Juliana says:
Tasha was one of my dearest friends—bright, compassionate, and full of joy. Her love for animals, her laughter, and her generous heart touched everyone lucky enough to know her. I will forever cherish our memories together. Rest peacefully, sweet Tasha. You are so deeply missed by many.
Erica Sparks says:
Tasha was a kind hearted, free spirit who loved life . With one of the best smiles and kindest eyes I have ever known .
As we all grieve her loss , let’s all be grateful we were lucky and blessed to have her in our lives
… the sky is brighter and heaven is blessed too now to have her . She will be terribly missed . I hope she is flying high and is resting in paradise.
Debbie Oatsvall says:
My sweet cousin, I will forever treasure the moments we had. The conversations, the laughs & the love we shared! This I sure am going to miss. You were definitely a BAB & no one will ever say different! Such a fierce , determined person and that showed in everything you did. Aunty Tasha’s was developed after you watched my 3 dogs for a week & even though it was short lived, you made an impact! Such a animal lover & they loved you. My sweet Tasha, I will forever hold you in my heart 💔
Randy Waas says:
I loved her humor when ever she would swear I would post a caution sign , I always called her Tweedy Bird and when she gained a couple pounds I referred to her as Big Big we shared a lot of laughs. I miss her so much ! She was too well loved to ever be forgotten 💔
Candy Eisenhauer says:
I am so very sorry to hear this. I’ve followed along with her journey. She was so brave knowing this could happen anytime yet she fought like a warrior.. Her little body had been ravaged constantly. May she Rest in Peace and be able to sleep now. God bless you Tasha.
Candy Eisenhauer says:
I am so very sorry to hear this. I’ve followed along with your journey from the beginning. You were so brave knowing this could happen anytime yet you fought like a warrior.. Your little body had been ravaged constantly. May You Rest in Peace my friend. You should be able to sleep now. God bless you Tasha.
Domenic Nudi says:
Tasha’s laugh was contagious. Her attitude and motivation were inspiring. From an early age, she fought the odds of nature. Her love was felt by many. She was one of a kind. I, as many others, will truly miss her. My thoughts are with Tyler (brother), Shelly and Johnny (adoptive parents), and other close family members and friends who had the privilege of knowing her.
Brad Cole says:
I don’t even know how to say the word’s that I want too. My heart is broken for you Tasha. I believe I wrote ten different sentences talking about how great you were. I had to delete them over and over again because none of them seemed good enough to describe the person you were. I believe the Lord himself placed your beautiful heart in you at birth. You were a true gift to everyone that knew you. I’m sorry you never got to meet the PUP like you wanted to do.
Lord, please cherish Tasha as much as we did. Let her love flow from the heavens down upon the ones who loved her. Let me walk out into the
warm sunshine and feel her presence once again. Please Lord, just one more time.
Capt. Andrew R Sadock says:
I don’t recall how we met — perhaps simply it was her omnipresence in downtown Kenosha in her capacity as unofficial “mayor of Kenosha”. Tasha sailed on Tall Ship Red With at least a couple times — enjoyed the experience and so, from time to time, in Kenosha coffee shops, we would say hello, and perhaps share a passing sentence or two. Over the years, simply running into one another at coffee shops on occasion, we would chat a bit — mostly she would ask about what was happening with Red Witch (sailboat) and I would inquire about her dog business.
I always appreciated that no matter what — Tasha would smile. Of course that’s not unusual in social situations. But, with Tasha — perhaps due to the obvious physical challenges she courageously faced, one could sense true caring that went deeper than most. One could sense inner compassion and empathy — not simply for animals, but for whomever she was in contact with.
Tasha had her struggles — not just physically (from illness earlier in her too brief life) but also from genetics — to this avail, courageously, she quit drinking 4 years ago … with the intention to do all she could to live as positive a life as possible. So, whereas our earliest conversational exchanges were extremely superficial — regarding Red Witch and her dog business, our brief impromptu conversations shifted to holistic health, religion (spirituality).
Tasha was EXTREMELY BRIGHT — far beyond her years. She was COURAGEOUS in the face of a horrendous struggle for physical health. And whereas obviously she had human moments — fear, sadness, worry — mostly I will remember her as one of, if not the, strongest people I have ever known. As an example, in the week prior to her passing — she refused to have a one-sided relationship (wherein I would simply ask about her physical health and ask if there was anything I could do to help — although obviously there was nothing I could do to help, except listen on occasion). She demanded that our impromptu acquaintanceship/friendship be a two-way connection. So no matter how bad her physical condition was … and I’m sure you’re aware that, oftentimes, her physical condition was TERRIBLE — she would always ask how I was — ask not simply about Red Witch — but would sincerely always try to change the subject from focus on her physical struggle — to discussion regarding what I was up to professionally and personally. She held GREAT APPRECIATION, EMPATHY, COMPASSION, and UNDERSTANDING of people, animals, nature and, moreso, LIFE.
She loved seeing photos of Kenosha’s beautiful sunrises and sunsets on Lake Michigan!
Mostly, as I told her whenever I ran into her downtown — “hang tough, kid!”. She was a tiny warrior. Honestly, she may be the STRONGEST person I ever met (and that includes rugby players, wrestlers, sailors, etc.). Tasha had fear, worry, sadness — like the rest of us. YET SHE COURAGEOUSLY did her best to GRACEFULLY face life with GRATITUDE, EMPATHY AND COMPASSION. Sorry — I know that’s redundant …
She was a great teacher. I cannot imagine the hardship she faced for so many years (decades). Yet SHE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, A KIND WORD.
GOD BLESS YOU TASHA!
Please note, I’m not from Kenosha. Moved Red Witch here in 2016. Candidly, Red Witch has taken 40,000 people sailing in Kenosha Harbor (since 2016). And of all the wonderful people I have had the privilege to meet in this wonderful big town/small city — I will always remember tiny Tasha — as her example of how to gracefully face seemingly insurmountable challenges, oftentimes with a smile, was larger than life. And remains a constant reminder and true inspiration.
Such a tiny person with such a large personality and, moreso, HEART!!!! Such a great example of how to live — in the face of overwhelming daily adversity. And how to appreciate each sunrise and sunset.
Thank God her suffering has ended.
Rest in peace, my friend.
Capt. Andrew
S/V Red Witch Ii
Michael Arsier says:
Such an amazing happy, warm, engaging, upbeat and STRONG person. She will be missed by many. There is a BIG HOLE in the heart of this neighborhood. If I had half of her struggles, I would be one rotten person to be around. She was quite the opposite. Thanks for UPLIFTING a lot of people with the way you lived your life.