Kathleen "Kay" Elizabeth Zolkowski

October 16, 1935 – December 2, 2019

Kathleen “Kay” Zolkowski, 84, Marietta, Georgia, died Monday, December 2, 2019.

Services will be at 11am Saturday, December 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marietta, Georgia. The funeral mass will be followed by a processional to Kennesaw Memorial Park, Marietta for the burial. Visitation is Friday from 4 to 8pm at the Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, Kennesaw with rosary service at 6pm. Memorials may be made to Skyland Trail.

Kathleen was born the fourth of six children on October 16, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan, to Arthur and Isabelle (Martin) Simmers. Kathleen attended Dominican High School in Detroit, where she was a member of the field hockey team. She then went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Mercy College of Detroit and was a teacher.

She met the love of her life, Joseph “Joe” F. Zolkowski her freshman year of college while on a double date with Joe’s fraternity brother, Arnie. She and Joe married five years later, on June 14, 1958, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Detroit.

Kathleen centered her life around family, working hard with Joe to make it possible for all five of their children to attend college. Life was full and joyous for “Kay” as she was known by family and good friends.

During the first year of marriage, Kathleen joined Joe in Iceland, where he was stationed with the Air Force. This was just the beginning of a life full of adventure and travel together. Kay and Joe lived in Iceland, and then California, Michigan, Texas, back to Michigan, and then to Cordele, Georgia, where they lived for 25 years before “retiring” to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

While living in Iceland and with three weeks of leave from the Air Force, Kay and Joe spent time traveling in Europe, visiting the Isle of Capri, Paris, and London. This sparked many ensuing adventures all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, China, Africa, Antarctica, South America, Mexico, and Rome, among others, over the years.

Kathleen also enjoyed playing tennis and always looked forward to getting together with her bridge group, the latter which stayed active up until recent years. She loved watching Notre Dame football and was affectionately referred to as “Mrs. Z” by the neighborhood kids. She was most proud of her family and how she and Joe raised five distinct children, helping steer them toward happiness and success.

Kathleen is survived by her husband, Joe, of 61 years, her children and their spouses: John and Amy Zolkowski, Atlanta, Georgia; Jerry and Donna Zolkowski, Saginaw, Michigan; Liz Steele, Columbus, Georgia; Jennifer and John Welstead, Marietta, Georgia; and Kathryn Straw, Houston, Texas. Also her grandchildren: Mary and Gerard Zolkowski, Saginaw, Michigan; Corey Steele, Atlanta, Georgia; Trevor Steele, Columbus, Georgia; Eilene, Emma, and John Patrick Welstead, Marietta, Georgia; and Bridget and Caitlin Straw, Houston, Texas.

Kathleen also is survived by a sister, Isabelle Crepeau, Livonia, Michigan, and a brother, Michael Simmers, Warren, Michigan, as well as many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

Besides her parents, and her namesake Kathleen Martin, she was preceded in death by siblings Arthur Simmers, Jean Thompson, and Harriet Simmers.

She will always be remembered for her humor, kindness and generosity.