Kathy K. Oliekan

Kathy K. Oliekan passed away on January 15, 2013 surrounded by her loving family. She suffered with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis for many years. She was born on February 9, 1950 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the only child of Forrest and Charlotte Kesterke. The family made their home in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Kathy married Dick J Oliekan November 26, 1973 in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in Coloma, Michigan and lived there until 2011 when they moved to Lehi, Utah for medical care for Kathy. They were blessed with four daughters: Kristin (Steven) Fry, Parker, CO, Kerrin (Rex) Jensen, Spanish Fork, UT, Kacey Oliekan, Lehi, UT, and Kaylynn (Benjamin) Haider, Coloma, MI. Kathy joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in August of 1968. She met Dick in December of 1968 while he was a missionary in Michigan. After his mission, Kathy was attending BYU where they ran into each other again and began dating. Her love of the Savior, Jesus Christ, was her greatest comfort in life. From a young age she had a desire to follow Christ and in every way try to be faithful to Him. Kathy served in a wide variety of callings in all of the church auxiliaries. However, her greatest love was teaching early morning Seminary. She taught for 10 years and instilled her love of the gospel into the students she taught. Next to Seminary, she loved teaching the children in Primary and the last couple of years working with Dick in the Cub Scouts program. She loved reading and learning and had a large library of books covering a wide variety of topics. She also loved traveling with Dick to many parts of the country and enjoyed the numerous camping trips they made over the years. Kathy loved her children with all her heart and found great joy in her 14 grandchildren. She never tired of being with them every opportunity she could. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 24, 2013 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3653 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph and on Thursday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. at the church. She was preceded in death by her parents. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Intermountain Health Care Hospice in Provo, Utah or a donation to the Perpetual Education Fund of the LDS Church.