Obituary of Kathy Ann Hoebelheinrich

Kathy Ann Hoebelheinrich, passed peacefully from her earthly life at the family home in rural Menominee, NE at age 49 on March 7, 2015. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM, Monday, March 16, 2015 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee, NE with Rev. Jim Keiter officiating. Burial will be immediately afterwards at St. Boniface Cemetery. Visitation with family will be 5-7 PM, Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a prayer service and rosary at 7:00 PM. Visitation will resume at one hour prior to the service at the church. All those attending services are encouraged to wear Husker red. Kathy was born July 11, 1965 in Yankton. She was the youngest child of Johanna E. (Wesseln) and the late Albin J. Hoebelheinrich. Kathy lived her entire life at the family home in rural Menominee. She was diagnosed at an early age with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. A catastrophic medical event at age 10 left her paralyzed from the neck down and unable to breathe on her own without ventilator support. She relied on family and private in-home caregivers for on-going, extensive skilled care for the rest of her life. At least sixteen young women who have cared for Kathy over the years have gone on to pursue careers in health care. Kathy survived multiple illnesses, surgeries/procedures and hospitalizations for nearly forty years, living well beyond her projected life expectancy. She recently told her parish priest, Father Jim Keiter that she had never thought of herself as suffering a single day of her life. Kathy will be remembered for her tenacity and persistence. She made certain that she always had a milestone or planned event to look forward to. She was able to complete her studies at home and graduated from West Catholic, Fordyce and Cedar Catholic, Hartington with her classmates. She also completed two years of college studies. She was a loving daughter and sister; a bridesmaid; a godmother; and, a doting aunt and great-aunt, rarely missing a birthday or other occasion to present a card and gift. She enjoyed planning family gatherings and parties; avidly collected recipes and directed the kitchen testing at home; and, looked forward to getting out of the house to go shopping. She was a die-hard Nebraska Husker fan. She surrounded herself with animal pets on the farm as a young child and regarded, Max, a rescue dog and faithful bedside companion until his death a year ago as her best friend. She was faithful to daily rosary and prayer. She is survived by her mother, Johanna; six siblings and their families: Jean (Reid) Holkesvik, Aberdeen, S.D.; Karen (Terrence) Flynn, Falls City, NE; Gary (Katherine Kabes), Lincoln, NE; Larry, Fordyce; Dennis (Lori Hoesing), Fordyce; and, Janice (Doug) Goltz, Falls City, NE. Kathy is preceded in death by her father, Albin J. Hoebelheinrich; paternal grandparents, Anton and Mary Hoebelheinrich; maternal grandparents, Rudolf and Maria Wesseln; Godmother, Rosie (Wesseln) Tyler and Godfather, Tony Hoebelheinrich. The family wishes to acknowledge the following for their support and service over the years: Fr. Jim Keiter, Menominee; Fr. David Fulton, South Sioux City, NE; Fr. Tim Lange, Yankton; Fr. Jim Zimmer, Sanford Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD; and, Msgr. Robert Roh, Falls City, NE; Dr. Richard Howard and Sanford Medical Center Pulmonary Nursing and support staff, Sioux Falls; Avera Sacred Heart Home Health and Hospice, Yankton; all lift team members at Sanford Medical Center, Kathy's loving caregivers and regular visitors at home, and the Wynot Rescue Squad. We also wish to acknowledge our extended family, neighbors and friends for their unconditional kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. In lieu of plants and flowers, please direct memorials to the Hoebelheinrich Family, 89329 559th Avenue, Fordyce, NE, 68736 to be divided among Kathy's designated charities-St. Boniface Church, Menominee; Women's and Children's Center/Shelter, Yankton; and Heartland Humane Society, Yankton.