Kathy Struble

There are some people who just go through the motions of everyday life, people whose footprints just seem to fade away immediately after having been formed. Then there are people who live their lives with vibrancy and zest, giving harmony to the rather mundane melody of life. Kathleen Struble was one of these extraordinary people who embraced life, coloring each moment with her vibrant colors, each and every day. She brought light and life to everyone who was placed in her path, simply by being who she was.

The 1950’s are often referred to as the “Nifty Fifties,” due to the worldwide advancement of television broadcasting, the obsession with rock ‘roll, and the introduction of the blue jeans into wardrobes across the globe, among many other exciting changes in our nation’s history. Virgil and Edna (Bird) Richards, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, were anxiously awaiting exciting changes of their own; as they were anticipating the birth of their first child at any time. They were indeed blessed on October 17, 1958, with the birth of their daughter, Kathleen. “Kathy” as she liked to be called, grew up as the oldest of seven children in Portage, Michigan, where she graduated from Portage Central High School in 1976.

Upon graduation, Kathy went to work at General Motors in Three Rivers, but during this time, Kathy experienced a fateful introduction to a man named Jim Struble, which would take her life in a fresh and exciting direction. Soon after Kathy and Jim met, a romance ensued, and they were united in marriage on July 17, 1981. The newlyweds settled on Muskrat Rd. in Three Rivers, during which time Kathy continued to work for General Motors for eight years, until she decided to stay home to raise her two sons, Jason and Justin.

Kathy embraced her role as a wife and mother, pouring herself into caring for the three people she held most dear. She was proud of her home and loved to decorate it, especially when Christmas came every year; Kathy meticulously adorned her home with all things Christmas. She also worked as an office manager for her family farm, Struble Farms, tending to the bookkeeping.

Always a woman who liked to be busy, Kathy was able to successfully intertwine her roles as a wife, mother, and office manager with some interests of her own as well. She worked part time for many years at Prairie Rhonde Flowers, where she learned the skill of flower arranging, a skill that she was naturally gifted at. She was an active woman who enjoyed playing golf and softball, as well as fishing, camping, and hiking, often in Canada. Her talent with flower arranging extended to her own gardens, which she tended to with tender loving care. She was usually armed with her camera, her family always prepared to “strike a pose” when Kathy was around! She had a passion for shopping, especially at Meijer and LTD Commodities, a popular catalog loaded with a wide variety of items. Kathy loved the great outdoors and traveling to their home in Arizona.

Her family members were not the only people to be touched by Kathy’s gentle and compassionate personality. Kathy never met a stranger; she had room in her heart for everyone she ever met, a true friend to all. Her spacious heart extended to animals as well, especially their dog named Spike. Kathy had given Spike away, but she and the boys missed him so much that she tracked down the new owner, and convinced them to give back Spike. Spike did indeed come back home, and spent the next 14 years with their family. More recently, Kathy showered her black lab Katie, with love.

When grandchildren arrived on the scene, Kathy treasured them deeply; she even took care of them from the time that they were babies, allowing their parents to work without worrying about the kind of care that they were receiving. Her grandchildren gave Kathy the opportunity to provide an extension of the love she sacrificially gave to her own children for so many years. She was anxiously waiting to greet her sixth grandchild, Jayden, who is expected at the end of January.

Staying true to form, Kathy valiantly faced her diagnosis of leukemia, in February of 2008, head on. She courageously fought her diagnosis, even receiving a bone marrow transplant just a few short months ago. Her sense of humor remained intact as well, as she joked about her spending habits at Meijer; Kathy remarked that if something happened to her, Meijer would go out of business! Unfortunately, recovery was not to be for Kathy, as her transplant was unsuccessful, but instead of being plagued by her bleak prognosis, she continued to live her life to its fullest, until she drew her very last breath.

Kathy Struble was a woman of great strength who lived her life with others in mind; whether it was her family, her pets, or the stranger on the street, Kathy’s heart encompassed them all. She loved her music, especially country and rock ’n roll, she loved the intricate details of a flower, and the satisfaction of capturing a genuine smile behind the lens of her camera; but most of all, Kathy loved her family. Kathy was a true gift, given to everyone who crossed her path; her memory will be forever etched on the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Kathy will be deeply missed.

Kathleen A. Struble, of Three Rivers, died on December 8, 2008 at her home after a brave fight with leukemia. Members of Kathy’s family include her husband Jim, her sons Justin (Stacey) Struble, Jason Struble and his fiancée Jessica Mark, her grandchildren Devon, Blake, Jacob, Riley and Nolan, her mother Edna (Robert) Engberts, her step-parents Dick (Fran) Adams, her siblings; Annette Miller, Kim (Robert) Zimbleman, Natalie (Tim) Schuiteboer, Terry (Betina) Adams, Scott (Carla) Richards, Robin (Arnold) Mundt, her father & mother-in-law Phillip & Harriett Struble, her sister-in-law Sharon (Bob) Laroy and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Visit with Kathy’s family and friends, view her life story film and share light refreshments on Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 at Life Story Funeral Home, Vicksburg; 409 S. Main St. (649-1697). A Funeral will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Please visit Kathy’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her life story, archive a memory or photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.