Kathryn Ann Lemmerman
April 25, 1924 – May 5, 2020
Neidhard Young Funeral Home assisted the Family
Obituary Via Neidhard Young Funeral Home
Kathryn Ann Joslin Lemmerman
Kathryn was born on April 25, 1924 in Amsterdam, New York to Harry and Isabelle Mosier Joslin, the youngest of two children. She died Tuesday May 5th at the Hospice Unit at Drake Center after a brief stay. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Margaret and her oldest child, Keith, who passed in 2012. She is survived by her husband of 74 yrs., Karl and their children: Kerry (Tim Baer) of Indianapolis, IN, Karl (Joanne) of Anchorage, AK, and daughter-in-law Terry (Keith) of Wyoming, OH; grandchildren: Neal (Cheri), Kelly (Eric), Angela (Chris), Julia (Simon), and John; plus 10 great grandchildren.
Kathie graduated high school in Amsterdam, New York and, following her older sister Margaret and aunt Harriet, she continued her education at Oberlin College in northern Ohio. Kathie and Karl met in 1942 while both were attending Oberlin. When Karl turned 21 he enlisted in the US Navy and served in the Pacific and China from July 1944 to July 1946. Kathie continued at Oberlin, going to class and working part time at Stofan Studio, helping Andrew Stofan photograph Town and College students and local events. At the War’s end and discharge, Karl returned to Kathryn and his Oberlin studies. The couple were married in Oberlin’s Fairchild Chapel on July 20, 1946.
Kathie graduated from Oberlin College in 1946 with a physical education degree and the couple lived in married student trailers until Karl graduated in 1947 (class of ’45) with a degree in chemistry. The couple worked summers at Harkness Camp on Lake Erie from 1947 to 1949. They moved to New York where Kathie worked for Cornell University and Karl earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1950. Their son Keith was born in New York later that same year.
The couple moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where Karl was hired by Proctor & Gamble to work at their Miami Valley Laboratories in 1951. The next year the couple moved into their home for the next 64 years in Mt. Healthy, Ohio. In 1959, they joined with four neighborhood families and built the Compton Swim Club, a large in-ground pool, where all the kids learned to swim and many hours were spent socializing and relaxing.
While raising the couples three children, Kathie volunteered at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati for over 30 years and was a Girl Scout leader for 23 years. For 70 yrs. Kathie knit innumerable items for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives, and friends. She also was in a local bowling league, teaming up w/life-long friends (The Pin Heads). Bridge Club was another activity she enjoyed as the monthly games rotated through member homes. Gardening, vegetable and flower, occupied a large amount of her time in the spring and summer.
After 36 years with P & G, Karl retired in 1988. Then, for over 20 years, the couple traveled extensively, having tremendous success and fun with the Elder Hostel (now Rhodes Scholar) program, both in the U.S. and abroad. They participated in over 50 Elder Hostel programs and met many new and old friends in their travels.
In 2015, they sold the family home in Mt. Healthy. Ohio, and moved into Evergreen, a senior living facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.
As per her wishes, there will be no visitation. Following cremation, there will be a private service. In lieu of flowers or cards, please donate to either the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetic Research Fund) 8050 Hosbrook Rd. Suite 314 Cincinnati 45236, or the Foundation For Hospital Arts, Inc. at 4238 Highborne Dr NE, Marietta, GA, 30066.
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