Kathleen Marie “Kathy” Rife, 76, of rural Deshler, Ohio passed away Sunday evening, June 25, 2023 at the Bridge Hospice Care Center, Bowling Green, Ohio.
She was born January 20, 1947 in Lima, Ohio to the late James and Catherine (Nierman) Roberts.
Kathy was a 1965 graduate of Ottawa High School. She worked as a secretary in the offices of the former Phillips factory in Ottawa, Ohio. She retired in 1999 after 30+ years of service.
On June 21, 1995 she married Kenneth Rife and he survives. Kathy enjoyed the outdoors and taking camping trips with her husband, Kenny; especially to Bradford, Pennsylvania. On these trips they enjoyed many stops at casinos and enjoying the outdoors. She always had a child-like wonder with nature and all of God’s creatures. She would care for just about any animal and even took in the occasional wild animal to nurture.
At home Kathy was meticulous. Her home was organized, cleaned and open to anyone. She would watch hours of science fiction movies and television and then find something else in her home to clean. Her family will forever remember her care-giving, motherly instinct when you were in her home.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth; children, Kurt (Amy) Rife; Brian Rife; Kelly (Brian) Graham; grandchildren, Kayla (Patrick) Whitten; Cameron Rife; Scott Rife; Austin Zimmerman; Zachary Graham; Alyssa Graham (Jason Ramsey); great grandchildren, Connor; Finley; Ezequiel; Laityn; Aiden; Oaklynn; nieces, Cindy Small; Jenny (Tom) Parker; Diane Brinkman; nephew, Jim Brinkman and brother-in-law, Jim Brinkman.
She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Mackenzie Zimmerman; sister, Helen Brinkman; brother, James Roberts and niece, Elaine Hulin.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday at Feehan-Rodenberger Funeral Home, Deshler with Fr. Art Niewiadomski officiating. A funeral luncheon and time of fellowship will follow.
Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggests memorials to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or the Ronald McDonald House. Messages and memories can be left for the family at www.feehanrodenbergerfuneralhome.com.
