Kathie Pedersen

Kathie Pedersen was a wonderful woman, of such great love, devotion, and humor. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who always put her family's needs ahead of her own, making sacrifices for those she loved. Her love and generosity live on today in all who knew her. Kathie's story began on balmy winter day in 1945, in the growing suburb of Burbank, California. Those were such hopeful times in this country, as World War II was nearing its dramatic ending, and everyone in the town of Burbank was doing their part to help the war effort, from the aviation industry to even Walt Disney. On February 28, 1945, Bernetta Brown kicked off the coming Baby Boom with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Kathie. Kathie's mother remarried a wonderful man named Frank Austin, who essentially raised Kathie. Frank was a mason in the growing community, while her mother worked as a waitress at her sister and brother-in-law's diner. Kathie had four brothers and a sister, although sadly, three of her brothers died as infants. The family persevered by relying on each other, and their faith in the Lord. They were loyal members of the First Christian Church in Iowa Falls. Kathie babysat quite a bit as a young girl, and also enjoyed going bowling with friends. She graduated from high school in 1963, and when she was 18, she began teaching Sunday school. Kathie then went on to attend college, where she studied Home Economics, perfect for what her future had in store. As she would later tell her children, she went to college to get her "MRS" degree! And she did. Did she ever. While in college, she met a handsome young man named Larry Pedersen, and the two quickly fell in love. They were the perfect complement to each other, where one was weak, the other was strong. So after a whirlwind courtship, the two were married, on February 29, 1964, in Nashua, Iowa, a day after her 19th birthday - on Leap Day! Later in life her children would tease them that because they were married on Leap Day, they really hadn't been married as long as the kids were born! Kathie and Larry were blessed with four wonderful (and funny) children over the years, Todd, Mike, Mark and Susan, who filled their lives with plenty of love and laughter. Kathie was an amazing mother, so caring, devoted and involved in her children's lives. Her time with her children was so important to her, and she was a very active parent. She served as Susan's Brownie Troop and Girl Scout Leader, and her boys would tag along, too. When the kids where in their teens, it was important to her to have them all home in time for dinner together. In 1979, the family packed up and moved to Alaska, which was a difficult move for Kathie. For financial reasons, she found a job at the National Bank of Alaska, now known as Wells Fargo. She didn't want to work there, didn't want to leave her children home, but just as always, Kathie sacrificed for her family. It didn't turn out to bad, though. She grew to love the people she worked with, forming some life-long friendships there, and stayed at the bank for 22 years. Kathie began to love Alaska, as well. She was a passionate animal lover, and watching the beauty of nature, which Alaska offered in such abundance, gave her great joy. She also enjoyed the company of her beloved pets over the years, including two cats, Princeton and Sarah, who were truly her babies. She hated to leave them behind when they moved to Michigan from Alaska. Sadly, Kathie dealt with some difficult health problems later in life, and had to go on oxygen in the late 1990s. She retired from the bank in 2001 due to restructuring and her disability, after working four years on oxygen full-time there. Due to her illness, Kathie led a sedentary retirement, and was limited to what she could do over the past four years. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, watching TV, writing many letters, or especially, playing cards with her beloved grandchildren. The greatest days of Kathie's life were the births of her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with them, and was her granddaughter Sarah's judge (and No. 1 fan) in her music practice. Kathie was such a loving, generous woman, who always encouraged the ones she loved, and supported them in any way she could. She was never judgmental, always forgiving, and so sympathetic to their troubles. Her daughter remembers just how trusting and forgiving her mother was, while her son Mike best remembers her mother's wonderful, heartwarming laugh. Kathie sadly died Monday, November 27, 2006, after battling illness for many years. Kathie was a wonderful woman, so loving, dedicated and compassionate. She devoted her life to caring for her family, through her support, sacrifice and unending love. Today her life, and her love, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are her husband, Larry; 3 sons, Todd (Kim) Pedersen, Mike Pedersen, Mark (Dawn) Pedersen, all of Alaska; 1 daughter, Susan (Jeff) Nestell of Muskegon; 1 sister, Linda Wood of Nebraska; 9 grandchildren, Anthony, Michael, Joshua, Britne, Sarah, Kenneth, Nathan, Markie, Hannah; several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Frank Austin; 2 sons; 3 brothers as infants; 1 brother, James Austin. A service will be held Friday, December 1, 2006, 3 PM, at the Clock Chapel with Pastor Kevin McCormick officiating. Memorials may be made to the Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.