Kathie Vachon

Our sister Kathie was born on November 6, 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska. We were not there to welcome her - only her parents Ernest and Delores Ustohal. This precious gift was named Kathy Jo. At a young age Kathie's love began for "anything" horse. Her drawings were unbelievable. In 1961 our family moved to the luxurious housing development known as Karen Addition. Our home was right across the street from a small church named Karen Street Baptist Church. Here, for the first time, she heard the gospel message that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again. By faith she accepted Christ as her personal Savior. At times she forgot her commitment to follow Him, but she never forgot her relationship to Him. She began to show her testimony more often later in life to doctors, neurologists, friends and family. Kathie's interests were many: hair styling, home decorating, landscaping, realty, traveling and drawing closer to friends and family and God. Kathie really "lost it all" when, in her early 60's, she studied and earned her nursing degree. She worked hard. We were so proud of her.

On October 28, 1969, Kathie's son Mathew was born. Their relationship can best be described from the opening lines of Charles Dickens' novel - It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Matt's death was devastating to Kathie.

Kathie's marriage to Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon on September 5, 1980 forever changed her life. He was the love of her life. She cared for Maurice the last five years of his life.

Kathie loved her sisters - Sandi Jensen, Susan (Larry) Dawson, and Trudy Ustohal. Kathie was thrilled when Trudy came to church and sat beside her - only after a big hug.

Janine (Derek) Crane, Julia (Cory) Goeser, Lauren (Scott) Collogan, and Megan Dawson are Kathie's four nieces and she also had one nephew, Michael (Sandy) Moore.

Just a special note - Julia became one of Kathie's caregivers. Julia kept Kathie young at heart as they enjoyed listening to music and dancing. Kathie claimed Julia as "the daughter she never had." Julia and friend, Cory, attended to Kathie's every need.

Besides adopting Julia for her daughter, she adopted Lauren and Scott's children as her grandchildren. Kinnick and Olivia (with Scott and Lauren) loved showing Aunt Kathie the attractions of D.C., Ft. McHenry, Gettysburg, Harper's Ferry and several Civil War battle sites.

"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold." Kathie had a lot of "golden" friends. Barb Hurley and Shiela Grabowski were two of them. She also made friends as she worked on Ralston Class Reunion work and yearly vacations to Hawaii added several "silver" friends.

Steve Schmitt and Todd Erickson are friends that come once in a lifetime if ever. They helped with Mad Dog when Kathie needed them. Wrestling functions made their friendship strong and secure.

Leroy Christiansen was Kathie and Maurice's neighbor. He was a gift that God gave the Vachons - priceless, special and always appreciated.

An uninvited stranger came to Kathie's door around 2017. This stranger was not welcomed but settled slowly in. We didn't know much about this stranger but read about his strange ways. Kathie got to know more and more about this stranger and less and less about reality. The stranger changed Kathie's life and ours, too. This stranger brought Kathie's life to an end all too soon. This stranger has a name...it is Alzheimer's disease.

But God gave us two angels to help Kathie. All of the family helped with Kathie's care...but we needed more help as this disease took away our sister. Those angels loved Kathie and went well beyond their "duty" to care for her. Thank you Karen Jackson and Laura Moore.

Thanks to Kathie's many doctors and health professionals, Hospice care and AseraCare the many others who knew Kathie.

Kathie was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon; her son, Mathew Paul Ramsey; brothers-in-law Ron Selix and James Jensen.

After a visitation at 10am and services at 11am at Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, Kathie will join a host of family at Riverview Cemetery in Louisville, Nebraska.