Katherine Johanna Chilcote

Katherine Chilcote was a remarkable woman, a woman with an amazing intellect, rare individuality, and admirable devotion to all those around her. She was a wonderful wife, loving mother and doting grandmother, and a loyal friend to so many. Most of all, Katherine was always a woman so ahead of her time, and an example to all who knew her. Katherine's story began on a cold December day in 1930, which were such turbulent times in this country. America was deeply mired in the morass of the Great Depression, and nearly a quarter of the country was unemployed. The Depression affected nearly everyone in this country, and it would be years still before the nation recovered. Yet in the little burg of Amber Township, Michigan, Jens and Marie (Stampe) Hasse found a reason to celebrate during such difficult times, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Katherine Johanna. Katherine was born on December 10, 1930, on a cold Wednesday in Amber Township, one of nine children in the Hasse home. The Hasses were of Danish descent, and Katherine grew up with a lifelong interest and pride in her ancestry. Later in life she became active in the Danish Sisterhood organization, and even traced her roots back to a church in Denmark. When Katherine was just a young woman, she met a handsome man named Phil Chilcote, and they hit it off right from the start. A romance ensued, and on November 18, 1950, the two were married, on a chilly Saturday just a few weeks shy of her 20th birthday. Katherine and Phil enjoyed a wonderful, special marriage, full of love and laughs and of course, family. They were blessed with two beautiful children, son Philip II and daughter Susan, and later four special grandchildren. Her personal life in full bloom, Katherine's professional life came to wonderful fruition, as well. In 1952, she took a job working as a keypunch operator for The Telephone Company. She later joined Westran, where her excellent work ethic and impressive intelligence earned her many different promotions. Impressed with her capacity to learn new things, Westran sent Katherine to Chicago to receive further training at IBM's school there, one of many different training programs she attended throughout her illustrious career. Katherine was so quick to learn new things, and as the emerging computer technology changed and progressed over the years, she fluidly kept pace with it. She became so skilled with the new technology, in fact, she was even tasked to set up computer systems for billing, payroll, data entry and general accounting. Eventually, she went to work as a computer programmer for Naph-Sol Refinery for more than 14 years, before retiring in 1985. Katherine possessed a voracious appetite for learning new things, and a natural curiosity about her, which took her far in her career. Her many accomplishments were a source of such great pride in her family, as well. Of course, as proud as she was of her career, Katherine's greatest pride and joy was always her family. The Chilcotes did much together over the years, and every summer they went to their cottage on Hamlin Lake in Ludington, where they made so many special memories together. Katherine loved that summer home so dearly, and enjoyed everything the cottage had to offer, including fishing, swimming, grilling outdoors, or mostly, having company visit them. Katherine was a wonderful host, and their summer home was a virtual hub of activity, with an "open door" policy to all their friends and family. All summer long, their cottage was home to a parade of people coming and going, like one big family reunion. Whoever visited or whatever their activities, Katherine ended each day the same way, by watching the gorgeous sunset over the state park. Katherine loved watching the sunsets, such a peaceful, tranquil time for her. Katherine had many loves, the way people who love life often do. She had a passion for collecting things, anything and everything, really. Katherine compiled a vast array of valuable antiques, books and other items. Some were valuable, many were not, yet to Katherine, they were all precious. She filled her home with her stockpile of "stuff," and also found great enjoyment in trading her "stuff" for other people's "stuff," too. The bartering was half the fun for her. Naturally, she avidly attended estate sales and antique markets, too. When she wasn't filling the inside of her home with collectibles, Katherine enjoyed beautifying the outside, especially tending to her garden. She also enjoyed quiet times in her home, working on her latest crochet project. She was also very active in her church, the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, and volunteered her time to helping those in need from her church family. Katherine was such a generous, caring woman, and made it her business to take care of others regularly. She would take them to appointments, run errands for them, bring them food, or simply spend time visiting with them, picking up their spirits. That's just the way Katherine was, though. She could sometimes be stubborn, and she was always opinionated, but she was constantly thinking of others - especially her family. Katherine's greatest joy came from her family, particularly her grandchildren, Timothy, Amanda, Savannah and Jesse. Timothy and Amanda grew up nearby in Laketon Township, and Katherine doted on them almost daily, and never missed any of their games or events. Katherine loved all her grandkids equally, however, and went to visit Savannah and Jesse out in California twice each year, for two weeks at a time, making sure she remained a big part of their lives. Sadly, Katherine's beloved husband Phil died in 1998 of emphysema, which was so hard for her. She became involved in the Widows Together organization, which was an important support group for her. And of course, she devoted more time to spending with her family. Katherine died on Friday, August 11, 2006, after a long and full life, a life full of fun and friendship and most of all, family. She was a brilliant woman, with a rare intelligence, good sense of humor, and great love for her family. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and doting grandmother, and a loyal friend to so many over the years. Katherine was truly a woman ahead of her time, yet we're so grateful for the times we shared. She will be so greatly missed. Mrs. Katherine Johanna Chilcote, age 75, died Friday, August 11, 2006. She was born in Amber Township, MI on December 10, 1930 to Jens & Marie (Stampe) Hasse & married Phil Chilcote on November 18, 1950. SURVIVORS - 1 son, Philip II (Brenda) Chilcote of Laketon Twp.; 1 daughter, Susan (Joel) Chilcote -Wade of CA; 4 grandchildren, Timothy & Amanda Chilcote and Savannah & Jesse Wade; 3 sisters, Burnette Crain of Newaygo, MI, Carolyn Moore of Grand Rapids, MI & Alice (Fred) Workman of Muskegon; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Phil, 2 brothers & 3 sisters. MEMORIAL SERVICE - Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 11:00 AM at First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Doug Ogden officiating. MEMORIAL: First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life Story- Muskegon