Obituary of Kathleen Ann Nemmers

Kathleen Ann (Kathy) Nemmers passed away on October 12, 2016 in Lake Forest, Il, following a brief struggle with melanoma. Kathy was born on March 26, 1955 in Storm Lake, IA to Bernard and June Beck Christenson. She was raised on the family farm as one of ten children. She was a 1973 graduate of St. Mary's High School in Storm Lake, and in 1977 received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN. She taught at Catholic grade schools in Minnesota and Illinois before choosing to stay home and raise her four sons. Kathy married Joseph Nemmers Jr. on August 4, 1978 at St. Mary's Church in Storm Lake. Kathy and Joe lived in Libertyville, Il before moving to Lake Forest in 2003. Following Joe's retirement from Abbott in 2007 they resided in Lake Forest and in Scottsdale, AZ. Kathy was an active volunteer at St. Joseph School in Libertyville for many years and was a past member of the board of directors of Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, IL. She was very involved with her sons' interests when they were young, and she participated in bible study in Arizona and Illinois. She was also an enthusiastic mahjong player and an avid golfer. She and Joe traveled extensively and Kathy felt blessed to have seen places she only dreamed of as a child. In retirement, Kathy and Joe helped found Christ the King Jesuit College Prep on Chicago's West Side, and recently have been helping the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit serve the Native American communities in the Arizona desert. Education and helping others were two of Kathy's lifelong passions. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, her sons Sam of WA, Mike (Kasia) of Libertyville, Max (Geeta) and grandson Leo of Libertyville, Tom of CA; her three sisters and five brothers, many nieces and nephews, and by countless friends who loved Kathy for her optimistic and friendly disposition. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Paul. Services for Kathy will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville on Friday, October 21, 2016. The family will receive friends for a Celebration of Life in the church from 3:30 to 6:00PM, followed by a Memorial Mass at 6:00PM. Interment at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville will be private. Arrangements by McMurrough Funeral Chapel (847) 362-2626. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, Christ the King Jesuit College Prep in Chicago, or the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit in Laveen, Arizona.