Dr. Sylvia "Mimi" Kubsch

December 5, 1945 - February 23, 2022

Beloved mother, wife, nurse, and friend to many, Dr. Sylvia “Mimi” (Horn) Kubsch, 76, of Green Bay, WI., was welcomed into Heaven by our Lord and Savior on February 23, 2022. Sylvia was born on December 5, 1945, in Hollywood, California. She and identical twin Cynthia grew up in Los Angeles and the pair loved sailing to Catalina Island together. She earned her bachelors in nursing from Cal State-Long Beach, her MSN from UCLA, and her Ph.D. from UW-Milwaukee. She began her career as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach, CA, where she met and married Dr. Kenny Kubsch in 1970. They moved to Green Bay and went on to have three children: Kristin, Kimberly, and Kevin, who were the pride and joy of Sylvia’s life. After Ken’s passing, she remarried Ken Knoch of Roswell, NM in 2016. Sylvia was a true servant of God and dedicated her life in service to others. She loved teaching and being a nurse. For 41 years she served on the faculty of the Professional Program in Nursing at UW-Green Bay as an Associate Professor. She was hired in 1980 to develop the program’s initial BSN curriculum and led by example in nursing education, mentoring a generation of students, researchers and faculty in best practices in nursing, alternative therapies, and holistic healing. Her enthusiasm for teaching never diminished. She was so very proud to be the recipient of UWGB’s Founders Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2014. She always said “retire from your job, but never retire your mind”. After receiving emeritus status in 2019, Sylvia was still grading papers daily, always looking to make the courses she taught relevant to the new groups of students she touched every day. She was one-of-a-kind, and a true nursing leader. She had a special gift of teaching others with unconditional kindness, compassion, and love. For all of her professional success, her most fulfilling accomplishment was being a mother and proud "Mookey" to her grandchildren. She was the biggest supporter of her children’s accomplishments throughout their lives. Sylvia was happiest around her friends, attending dinner parties, taking trips, and bringing people together at her home. She welcomed people with open arms, often extending invitations to those who may be alone during the holidays. She enjoyed tending to her rose bushes, having a pinot grigio with the girls, and spending summer time at the family cottage in Eagle River, WI. Family vacations to Hawaii and California, skiing in Upper Michigan and Winter Park, and camping trips to Peninsula State Park will remain cherished memories. Sylvia will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, “Mookey”, sister, wife, nurse, teacher, and friend to so many and will be dearly missed. Sylvia is survived by her husband Ken Knoch; daughter Kristin (Dave Pribyl) and grandchildren Kensleigh and Graham; daughter Kimberly and grandson William; son Kevin and dog “Buffett”; brother-in-law Gus Brocksen; niece Rebecca Salek; and her beloved dog “Luna”. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Kenny Kubsch; twin sister Cynthia Brocksen; and parents, aunts and uncles from the Alt family. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 9-11:00am on Wednesday, March 9 at Resurrection Catholic Church, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the church with Father Tom Reynebeau officiating. A tribute in Mimi’s honor will be given by the Wisconsin Nurse’s Honor Guard just prior to the service. All in attendance are invited to lunch following the funeral. To honor Mimi’s spirit, memorial gifts may be directed to the Mimi and Ken Kubsch Endowed Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Donations may be made online here -- https://secure.qgiv.com/for/uowgb/restriction/Mimi+and+Ken+Kubsch+Endowed+Scholarship -- or by check to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Foundation (Mimi and Ken Kubsch Endowed Scholarship), 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311.