Katherine was born on January 2, 1932, in Topeka, Kansas to Johann Traugott Schulz and Dorothea Theresa (Anschutz) Schulz. She was baptized, attended grade school, and was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas. At the age of 13 she began high school at Concordia High School in Seward, Nebraska, graduating in 1949. She continued at Concordia Teachers College, where she met her future husband, Wallace E. Deterding. They were married on September 2, 1951, and lived in Chicago, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland while he was in the Army, and afterwards settled in Kansas City, Missouri.
They raised four children: Lynn Wood (Terry), Patricia Brewer (Robert), Tod Deterding (Cecilia), and Amy Briner (Les).
Katherine was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher, taught piano lessons, and worked in the lunchroom at Barry Middle School. She was an accomplished organist and loved concerts and music, especially Bach and Handel. She also “thoroughly enjoyed” family get-togethers and eating out. She was a member of King of Kings Lutheran Church.
Katherine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and an infant daughter; and her sisters, Ruth Grau (Delbert) and Evelyn Gehrt (Andy).
She is survived by her children; eight grandchildren: Tim Wood (Valerie), Jennifer Evans (David), Tad Brewer (Sara), David Brewer (Kathryn), Anne Lovercamp (Cody), Cody Deterding (Paige), Kevin Briner (Kaitlin), and Kelly David (Samson); eleven great grandchildren: Tristan and Riley Wood, Emma and Levi Evans, Harper and Isaiah Brewer, Ivy and Ridge Lovercamp, Graham and Graycen Briner, and Noah David; sister, Margaret Kellerman (Robert); and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations for Katherine may be made to King of Kings Lutheran Church, Lutheran Hour Ministries’, or designated for Cal Farley Boys Ranch, Amarillo, Texas or Boys Town, Omaha, Nebraska.