Samantha L. Kesich

Samantha Lori Kesich, lovingly known to everyone as Sammy, was a radiant light in the lives of all who knew her. Born on August 28, 2002, in West Allis, Wisconsin, Sammy brought warmth, laughter, and love wherever she went. Her sudden passing on April 27, 2025, due to a brain AVM rupture, leaves an unimaginable void, but also countless memories filled with joy, kindness, and deep connection.

Sammy grew up in Franklin, where she built strong roots and lasting friendships. She graduated from Franklin High School, where she shined as a proud member of the Franklin Dance Team. With her teammates, she earned state titles—but more than that, she made lifelong friends and found her voice through movement and passion. She went on to pursue her degree in communications at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater graduating in December 2025, where her intelligence and creativity flourished. Sammy had an incredible gift for connecting with people, and her genuine, warm-hearted nature made everyone around her feel seen and valued.

Her laugh was infectious, echoing warmth and joy in every room she entered. Sammy had a quick wit, a perfectly timed sarcastic sense of humor, and a heart so big it could hold everyone’s worries without ever dimming her own light. She had a way of lifting others simply by being herself.

Sammy's hobbies illustrated her spirited personality. She found solace in reading, cherished moments spent outdoors in nature and delighted in picking flowers that reflected her own beauty. Crafts provided her with a creative outlet, where her imagination could flourish. However, more than anything, she loved being with her people. Her family and friends were her world, and she made sure they knew it every single day.

Sammy will always be lovingly remembered by her proud parents, Dennis and Debbie Kesich, who cherished every moment with their sweet girl, and by her brother Nick (Lani), who shared a lifelong bond of laughter and love with her that will stay with him forever. Sammy adored her role as an aunt, and her niece and Goddaughter Winnie held a very special place in her heart—she lit up whenever Winnie was near. Her boyfriend, Wyatt Schwarzhuber, wasn’t just the person she loved. He was her safe place, her partner, her biggest supporter, and the one who shared so many beautiful, silly, and meaningful moments with her. Her beloved dog Louis was never far from her side and he was her constant companion, bringing comfort, joy, and unconditional love.

Sammy also held a special place in the hearts of her extended family—her aunts and uncles Paul and Kathy Nelson, George and Diane Kesich, Dean Kesich; her cousins Mike and Kristin Nelson, Jaime Roeglin, Michelle and Cale McHenry, Danni Kesich, Roan McHenry, Kaitlyn Roeglin, Joey Roeglin, and Cody Nelson—each of whom felt the unmistakable magic of Sammy's love and light.

Now, she is reunited with her beloved brother Tyler and her grandparents George and Lorraine Kesich and Robert and Marian Brady. We find comfort in imagining the warmth of their embrace as they welcome her home.

A visitation to celebrate Sammy’s beautiful life will be held on May 9, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Max A. Sass & Sons Funeral and Cremation Mission Hills Chapel in Franklin, Wisconsin. Additional visitation Saturday 9-9:45 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community (9520 W. Forest Home Avenue, Hales Corners). Interment Arlington Park Cemetery.

As we remember Sammy, may we carry her spirit with us—her compassion, her laughter, her courage, and her boundless kindness. She made the world brighter, and that light will never fade.