Kristen Ann Schmeling (nee Gessler), 53, met her mother and father in the Eternal Kingdom Tuesday, September 10, 2019, after battling multiple sclerosis for over 20 years. She is survived by her devoted husband, Eric, who cared for her diligently throughout her ordeal, and her loving and helpful children Patrick (Diedre), Tess (John) Wagner, and high schooler Lukas. They were ever at her side, supporting and caring for her as she navigated this debilitating and costly disease. Kristen was born in Sheboygan in 1966, to Ralph and Corie (nee Bort) Gessler. She graduated from Port Washington High School in 1984 and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing in 1988. As a nurse for 22 years, Kris specialized in neonatal intensive care at St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, where she provided expert nursing to thousands of premature babies, many born addicted to drugs or suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, with few family resources. Kristen relished holding and loving those babies. She was patient and kind to the parents and enjoyed teaching and encouraging them so they could have a new beginning. Kristen's nursing career was cut short by MS, but she never stopped advocating for babies and children. She followed the news about efforts to improve children's lives and advocated on their behalf with lawmakers because she said it was something useful she could do even while her own mobility and independence were curtailed. Kristen's work inspired her daughter to become a kindergarten teacher, one niece to become a labor and delivery nurse, and another to pursue child advocacy. Kristen met Eric when they worked at the Port Washington McDonald's as teenagers. They recently celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary. They are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grafton, where Kristen served as a school parent volunteer and where she and Eric served as a pre-marital counseling couple for many years. Together, they enjoyed motorcycle trips across the country and loved renovating old homes, taking family fishing trips to the Canadian wilderness, and supporting their sons' Boy Scout activities and daughter's volunteer work with children. Kristen is survived by a loving sister, Katie Bednarek, and devoted sister-in-law, Patty Jaffke, and girlfriends LeAnn Wroblewski and Lois Lopez, all of whom visited her regularly, brought her flowers and art for her hospital rooms, took her for manicures and haircuts, accompanied her to movies, and were creative in bringing normalcy and laughter to her challenging life. Kristen is further survived by brother Mark (Rhonda) Gessler; brothers-in law Mark Bednarek, Chuck (Jenny) Schmeling and Dave Jaffke; sisters-in-law Peggy and Sherry (Jim Kates) Schmeling; nieces Maggie and Lucy Kates and Abbie Gessler; nephews Andy and Ben Schmeling, Joe and Jake Bednarek, and Sam Gessler; parents-in-law Jim and Louise Schmeling; and many aunts and uncles and St. Joseph Church parishioners who visited her and prayed with her at Lasata Nursing Home, where she was 2018 Resident of the Year, and at the many hospitals where she was treated. Kristen treasured those visits because they gave her energy and were greatly appreciated by Eric and the children. The family also extends special thanks and deep gratitude to the staff and nurses at Lasata who provided such loving and kind care, and to the pastoral staff at St. Joe's Church for their spiritual guidance. Bless you! A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 17, at 5 PM, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1619 Washington St., Grafton. Father Michael Barrett will preside over the Mass. Visitation will take place at the Church on Tuesday the 17th from 2 PM until the time of Mass. After proudly raising two children successfully to adulthood, Kristen's greatest wish was to see her youngest son off to college. You can participate in the fulfillment of that dream by making memorials to the Lukas Schmeling Education Fund, in care of Port Washington State Bank, 206 N. Franklin St., P.O. Box 176, Port Washington, WI 53074-0176. "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." I Peter 5:10