Kathy Coleman, 78

Kathy was born in Mason City, IA, on January 15, 1945, to Ivan and Ruby (Borchert) Krueger. She spent much of her childhood on their family farm near Grafton, IA. In her teen years, the family moved to Prescott, AZ, and she graduated from there in 1963.

Kathy moved numerous times in her adult life, but Baudette was always home to her. She loved the wildlife, nature, and all four seasons in Minnesota.

For decades, she worked as a waitress at the Ranch House in Baudettte. She loved the job and was great at it. Her greatest of many strengths was her natural ability to make people feel welcome. After her health guided her to retirement a bit earlier than she would have liked, she found other ways to let people know she cared. She crocheted countless afghans for loved ones and donated them to various fundraisers to help people near and far, as well. Every new member of the family was promptly presented with one at the first reasonable opportunity. In recent years, she had set down her crochet hook and picked up beading instead. She made personalized keychains for almost everyone she met. She said it kept her busy and as long as people were still happy to receive them, she would keep making them. Which she did up to her very last day. She loved to make people smile.

Kathy was not only thoughtful and creative but fiercely independent. She was never one to shy away from hard work. She had been known to chop her own wood, haul her water from a well, and work on her own pickup truck in her healthiest and happiest years. If she had her mind set on something, it was nearly impossible to turn her around from it.

Kathy passed away on December 22, 2023, at CHI LakeWood Care Center in Baudette, where she had been living for just a few months prior to that. She was preceded in death by her father, Ivan Krueger; her mother Ruby Krueger; and her older sister Audrey Hankins Balow.

She will be missed dearly and often by her children, Ben (Nicole) Collins of Arizona, Brett Collins of Colorado, Sheri (Brock) Stebakken of Baudette; her grandchildren, Harley (Austin) Poppitz, Camryn (Jenna) Strohl, Grant Stebakken and Bryce Strohl; and her great-grandchildren, Adaline and Waylon.

Her family will be sure to share their fondest memories of her with her future great-grandchildren, as well. At the time of her passing, there were two more on the way.

Kathy is also survived by her bonus son, Todd (Heidi) Barnes, his two children, Maissie and Rook, and his two grandchildren, Lillianna and Maylee.

Nothing made Kathy happier than the thought of her loved ones gathering and spending time together. Please join us for a Celebration of Life in her honor on January 6, 2024, from 2-5 pm at the VFW Post 723 in Baudette.