Kathleen Gutzman Nenaber
June 12, 1949 (Vermillion, SD) - May 30, 2016 (Springfield, IL)
Obituary: Kathleen Gutzman Nenaber 1949 - 2016
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Kathleen Gutzman Nenaber died Monday, May 30, 2016, in Springfield, Ill., having lived a full life since her first cancer diagnosis 21 years ago.
The daughter of Wayne and Loisgail Grotenhouse Gutzman, she was born June 12, 1949, in Vermillion, S.D. She graduated from Vermillion High School in 1967, earned an A.A. degree at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota in 1971. Kathie then served in the Peace Corps in Jamaica.
On Aug. 25, 1973, she married Michael Nenaber in Vermillion. After they moved to Springfield, Ill., she taught mathematics at Sacred Heart Academy for five years. She also taught at Lincoln Land Community College and tutored dozens of high school mathematics students in her home over the years.
She was grateful for the opportunity to be a full-time mother to James and Christa.
Kathie sang in Westminster Presbyterian Church's choir for 40 years, and also served as an elder and co-archivist of the congregation. She was a member of Chapter ES, P.E.O., Sunnyside Literary Circle, Dining for Women, and the Liturgical Arts Festival Board of Directors. Kathie and her daughter Christa volunteered in period dress at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.
Kathie is survived by her husband, Michael; son, James, his wife Nicole, and grandson, Andrew of Chicago; daughter, Christa, and significant other Ethan Brown of Denver; siblings: Susan Seipp and husband Neal of Warrensburg, Mo., Howard Gutzman and wife Mary of Endwell, N.Y., Ellengray Kennedy and husband Charlie of Bancroft, Iowa, Carl Gutzman and wife Cindy of Vermillion, S.D.; stepmother, Eileen Gutzman of Seminole, Fla., and her family; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her mother, Loisgail, in 1963; her stepmother, Patricia Doll Gutzman in 1983; and her father, Wayne in 1995.
Kathie considered raising James and Christa to be kind, thoughtful, and happy adults as her most significant accomplishment.
One of her missions in life was to make mathematics understandable, if not enjoyable, to her students and tutees.
Her interests included flower gardening, reading, hula-hooping, walking, cooking and entertaining, traveling, sitting atop mountains, and enjoying music of various genres.
Donations in her memory may be made to: Westminster Presbyterian Church or Central Illinois Food Bank.
Published in The State Journal-Register on June 1, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Kathleen Gutzman Nenaber died Monday, May 30, 2016, in Springfield, Ill., having lived a full life since her first cancer diagnosis 21 years ago.
The daughter of Wayne and Loisgail Grotenhouse Gutzman, she was born June 12, 1949, in Vermillion, S.D. She graduated from Vermillion High School in 1967, earned an A.A. degree at Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of South Dakota in 1971. Kathie then served in the Peace Corps in Jamaica.
On Aug. 25, 1973, she married Michael Nenaber in Vermillion. After they moved to Springfield, Ill., she taught mathematics at Sacred Heart Academy for five years. She also taught at Lincoln Land Community College and tutored dozens of high school mathematics students in her home over the years.
She was grateful for the opportunity to be a full-time mother to James and Christa.
Kathie sang in Westminster Presbyterian Church's choir for 40 years, and also served as an elder and co-archivist of the congregation. She was a member of Chapter ES, P.E.O., Sunnyside Literary Circle, Dining for Women, and the Liturgical Arts Festival Board of Directors. Kathie and her daughter Christa volunteered in period dress at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.
Kathie is survived by her husband, Michael; son, James, his wife Nicole, and grandson, Andrew of Chicago; daughter, Christa, and significant other Ethan Brown of Denver; siblings: Susan Seipp and husband Neal of Warrensburg, Mo., Howard Gutzman and wife Mary of Endwell, N.Y., Ellengray Kennedy and husband Charlie of Bancroft, Iowa, Carl Gutzman and wife Cindy of Vermillion, S.D.; stepmother, Eileen Gutzman of Seminole, Fla., and her family; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her mother, Loisgail, in 1963; her stepmother, Patricia Doll Gutzman in 1983; and her father, Wayne in 1995.
Kathie considered raising James and Christa to be kind, thoughtful, and happy adults as her most significant accomplishment.
One of her missions in life was to make mathematics understandable, if not enjoyable, to her students and tutees.
Her interests included flower gardening, reading, hula-hooping, walking, cooking and entertaining, traveling, sitting atop mountains, and enjoying music of various genres.
Donations in her memory may be made to: Westminster Presbyterian Church or Central Illinois Food Bank.
Published in The State Journal-Register on June 1, 2016