Kathleen Stith Hartwick

An indomitable matriarch who suffered no fools, Kathy was born on November 10, 1957, to parents Jim Stith and Margaret Harness Stith in Kansas City, Missouri. Growing up, she looked after younger brothers Kyle and Brian with fierce devotion. From older brother Kevin she was gifted with a curiosity for how things work and the seeds of a morbid sense of humor.

While attending Indiana University, Kathy fell in love twice: Once with music, studying composition, playing piano, and singing in a local band; and again with chemistry, in which she ultimately earned her degree.

A few years after graduation, Kathy met future husband Richard Hartwick at a chemistry course. The two settled on a farm in South New Berlin, where they raised three children: Sally, Scott, and Richard. On the farm, she enjoyed tending to her beloved chickens, swimming, and gardening in addition to nurturing her erudite tastes in art, music, and literature.

On this same farm, the couple started their own business, PharmAssist, which they grew from humble beginnings to one of the highest quality analytical chemistry laboratories in the country over the course of nearly 40 years. Kathy engaged employees and customers as she did her own family, often blunt but also with compassion and humor. Her radical generosity in sharing all that she had financially, creatively, intellectually, and emotionally shaped not only the development of the company but also sought to lighten the load of each individual life she touched.

With her health on the wane, as weeks narrowed to days, she engaged her friends, family, and surroundings with child-like curiosity and presence. Her vivid dreams told a story of transfiguration, hospitality, and homecoming, and it was from this empowered state that her soul and body made its transition.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 35 years, Richard; a daughter, Sally Hartwick; stepsons Scott (Elaine) Hartwick and Richard Hartwick; brothers, Brian Stith, Kyle (Anne) Stith and their daughter, Catherine, and Kevin (Jenny) Stith; friend Anna Ehrsam and Anna’s daughter, Adelaide.

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Kathy’s memory by offering your time and resources to your neighbors and community