Katharine McCarthy

Age 31, passed away unexpectedly on Monday May 27. Kate was a wonderful, loving wife to Peter Kohnen, a blessing as a daughter to Peggy (Margaret) Gagen and David McCarthy and the best sister and sister-in-law that anyone could ask for to Mary McCarthy and her wife Autumn. Kate started her life in Portage, MI as part of a close group of families on Westshire Street. A graduate of Portage Northern High School, Kate was part of the Marching Band and Forensics Team. She attended The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio where she received her Bachelor of Arts and found her love of the law when she joined the Moot Court Team. As a junior Kate and her partner won the National Moot Court Championship. After a year working in a law firm in Columbus, Ohio, she received a full academic scholarship from Wayne State University Law School. At Wayne State Kate was Editor-in-Chief of the Wayne Law Review, participated in Moot court and earned her Juris Doctor cum laude. Her law career took her from clerking at the Michigan Court of Appeals to her current position as an Associate at Zausmer, August & Caldwell, PC. She was named as one of the rising stars in Detroit's legal community. On July 28, 2012 she married the love of her life Pete Kohnen. They met when they both worked at Target and sustained a long-distance relationship while they attended college in different states. They had a true partnership as each supported the other as they pursued their advanced education and careers. Kate was so much fun to be with, she had a great sense of humor and could laugh well. Ready to be silly, she also had a little bit of a sarcastic wit. She was a great friend, kind and thinking of others. Always willing to go the extra mile to be there for her friends and to keep in touch. Kate was also fiercely supportive of those she cared about. Her passing has left us with a great void. Kate is survived by her parents Peggy Gagen and Dave McCarthy, sister Mary and Autumn Neuharth, aunts and uncles Kathy Coleman, Tim and Ann Gagen, Jan Gagen and Dave Cheeney, Ed Gagen and fiancee Kathy Fine, Michael Jaeger, Terri and Jim Hursey, Patrick and Vanita Gagen, grandmother Lois McCarthy, Dennis and Gail McCarthy, Mike McCarthy, Dan McCarthy, Carolyn and Ken Kyle and cousins who are too numerous to name here. Kate has moved on to join her grandparents, Chuck and Lucy Gagen and Jerry McCarthy, her Aunt Eileen Gagen Jaeger, Aunt Lisa Gagen and Uncle Patrick McCarthy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to I Heart Dogs, the organization Kate and Pete used to adopt Toast or The Daisy Project, a nonprofit that provides medical and recreational equipment for families with special needs where Kate was a volunteer.