Kathleen Louise Byerley

Kathleen Louise (Hoffman) Byerley, 79, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, moved to her new address in Heaven on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Her last days were spent in her farm home, being loved by her family and asking God to show her the way home. Born in Fort Wayne, she was one of eleven children of the late Eli and Esther (Hobrock) Hoffman. Kathleen graduated from Hoagland High School in 1960 and Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in 1963. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Lutheran Hospital on the Orthopedic Floor. She married Wayne in 1964, and stayed home to care for their children. She occasionally helped Wayne at his veterinary practice throughout the years. In 1992, Kathleen switched her focus to helping people holistically. She attended massage therapy school in 1992, with advanced graduate studies in 1993-1994. Even as her journey with cancer began in 1999, Kathleen lived with joy. During these 22 years of living with cancer, she discovered a love for yoga and took over 200 hours of teacher training. Her journey ended with the recent diagnosis of acute leukemia. She loved to sing, and early on in her married life, was very active with music and other activities at St. John’s Lutheran Church – Lake Township. Even with a weakened voice, Kathleen belted out a glorious version of the Lord’s Prayer days before her passing. She also loved to play the autoharp, send cards with notes (often quite lengthy), cheer for Purdue basketball, play hearts—nicely!—and get her husband to laugh at her jokes. Her most favorite place to volunteer was at Lake Luther Bible Camp, where she spent many years serving on the Board. She most recently supervised—from her lawn chair—the planting of a tree on April 25 at the Camp. For 51 years, Kathleen enjoyed living on the family farm and tending to her flower beds. She especially loved to deadhead her flowers and wondered if she would be able to do this in Heaven. She shared her creative spirit and love of nature with her husband, Wayne Byerley; her son, Matt Byerley of Noblesville; daughter, Sara (Todd) Simpson of Fort Wayne; grandchild, Samantha (Isaac) Walker of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and great-grandchild, Aurora Sterrett. Left with decades of fun-loving memories are siblings, Calvin (Janet) Hoffman of Hoagland, Eileen Coleman of Fairway, Kansas, and David (Marianne) Hoffman of Grabill; and sisters-in-law, Marilyn Hoffman, Betty Hoffman, and Carole Shade. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Donald, Henry, Wilmer, Howard, Ralph, Clifford, and Gilbert Hoffman; brother-in-law, Don Coleman; daughter-in-law, Terryl Byerley; and grandson, Eric Sterrett. A Celebration of Life will be held outdoors under a tent on Saturday, August 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Luther, 5215 N 450 W, Angola, Indiana, 46703, with food and fellowship following. Please dress comfortably in t-shirts and shorts. After all, it is August in Indiana. Due to the uncertainty of COVID, please bring a mask. God has blessed our family with so much, so instead of flowers, gifts, or memorials, we ask that you bless another person with an act of kindness. Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10 Love, Joy, Peace, Light