Katherina Marlene Maunder

Born Katherina Marlene Blum on May 25, 1953 in Canada to parents Joseph and Elizabeth, she grew up in the Chicago area and later graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a major in Biology and minor in History. She met her husband Bruce while teaching in Australia and after settling in Lubbock, they enjoyed many loving adventurous years together before his passing in 2019. The embodiment of kindness, Kathy’s inclusive, selfless nature made us all realize the power of human connection specifically in setting an example for the next generation. This was recognized by Governor Rick Perry and the TX State Board of Education who presented her with the Heroes for Children Award in 2003. In teaching primary education both domestically and internationally followed by over three decades of leading her Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church as well as volunteering and meeting wonderful folks at Meals on Wheels and the Good News Club, she was guided by her faith in Jesus Christ and belief in how each of us could take part in making tomorrow a better place for everyone. Many of her early Sunday School students became parents themselves dropping their children off to spend precious moments with Miss Kathy. Hopefully, for those of you reading this who were impacted by her life in any way, we can all reflect for even a moment on those memories and play our part in continuing her example in our own lives.

Kathy is survived by her son Chris and his wife Alli Maunder of Highlands Ranch, CO and sister Dorothy Blum of Chicago, IL.