Kathryn "Kathy" Ann Karl

Kathy is predeceased by her parents Myles and Josephine Golan, her brother John Golan, sister-in-law Mary Ann Golan and many other loved family members.

She is survived by her husband and best friend, Gary “Skip” Karl, her son Todd (Candice & Jenna Herbst) of Washington, DC, her daughter Kristen (Jeff) Graham of Raymore, MO and many loved cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be sorely missed and survived by her grandchildren, John “Myles” Graham and Elizabeth “Libby” Graham, her sister Barbara (Steve) Rogalavich, sister-in-law Audrey K. Kalb and many loved cousins, nieces and nephews. Let us not forget her three granddogs — Ellie, Josie and Millie who were her constant companions.

Kathy is a graduate of Seton Catholic High School (1964) and attended Rosary Hill College in Buffalo, NY where she studied education until her loving then-boyfriend, Skip, swept her off her feet and proposed. They married in 1966.

Kathy and Skip raised their children in the Binghamton, NY area, living in the community of Vestal. She proudly served as CEO of the Karl Family from 1966 - 2021, where the trains ran on time and she kept everyone in line via the best way possible — love. For the first 15 years of their marriage, she never let Skip see her hair in curlers (yeah, that’s old school!).

In Vestal, she and Skip formed many life-long friendships and were active members of their parish at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church until they relocated to Raleigh, NC in 1994.

After several years in Raleigh, Skip and Kathy started their retirement in Bonita Springs, FL where she helped many people find new homes and built a small business with Skip and dear friends. The couple stayed in Florida until their grandchildren were born. They made their way west to Kansas City where she assumed her new identity — “Mimi”. Mimi embraced her role as grandmother with open arms, mind and heart and was dedicated to the happiness and well-being of Myles and Libby and she loved Jenna as her own.

She is loved and remembered for her expressions of love, meticulous attention to detail, witty sense of humor, providing a welcoming and comfortable home, ability to fix anything, and her love of a good game. What we’d all give for another game of Rack-O or Scrabble! But most of all, she is lovingly remembered for her undying devotion to her husband, children and grandchildren.

Kathy’s rehabilitation from AVM and its effects over the past six months are a tribute to her determination to overcome anything. She knew she needed to help herself before she could continue caring for the rest of us. She and we, her family, are very appreciative of everyone who helped her at KU Medical Center, St. Luke’s, and Ability KC. We acknowledge the amazing care she received from the wonderful staff at each of these incredible institutions. Being ill during a pandemic posed many challenges and everyone at each of these institutions provided exemplary advice and care to address those challenges during her extended convalescence.

The family respectfully suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory, to:

1. Ability KC: https://abilitykc.org

2. The Creekmoor Beautification Committee:

1112 E. 163rd St., Raymore, MO 64083.

(816) 331-2621.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 6 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lee’s Summit, MO at 9:00 AM. The funeral mass will follow immediately after at 10:00 AM.

In addition, a memorial mass is planned for Friday, August 6, 2021 in Vestal, NY at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Visitation beginning at 10:00 am at the church. Mass will immediately follow at 11:00 am.