Kathlyn Lou Gattshall

Kathlyn Lou (Kathy) Gattshall, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away December 9th, 2022 in her home at the age of 74.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 17th, at Cross Roads Church RCA, 10551 S. Quivira Rd. Overland Park, KS 66215, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. also at the church. Kathlyn will be laid to rest at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery,  8300 Quivira Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215.

Kathy was born on September 29, 1948 after a bad road near Tribune sent her mother into premature labor. A harrowing trip to the hospital in Syracuse, Kansas led to her emergency delivery. She went home to Tribune with her father, Vernon Kirby, mother, Velma Kirby and big sister, Darla Kirby. The home was drafty, so she was kept snuggly swaddled near the stove for warmth. They soon found better accommodations. Two years later Craig Kirby was born. Their youngest sister, Marsha died from complications at birth.

Kathy’s love of music was nurtured by her music teacher mother and educator father, both of whom were accomplished vocalists. Career opportunities for her parents took the family to Wichita. Kathy grew up spending summers with her cousins. Family road-trips lead to epic tales and a life-long love of travel. Back in Wichita, she loved performing with chorale groups and in school musicals.

She graduated from Southeast HS in 1966 and headed to Kansas State University where she made lifelong friendships. A mutual friend set her up with Bob Gattshall, a psychology major from a farm near Goodland. They married June 3, 1969 at East Heights United Methodist Church in Wichita.

Between January 1970 and December 1972, they had three children. Kathy loved raising the kids. She kept very busy with activities at the First United Methodist Church: Choir, Hand-Bells, Stephen Ministry, Marriage Encounter, Sunday School. She was Room Mother for each of her children, PTA, Cub/Girl Scout leader. She could often be found driving around in circles picking up kids--most of the time her own, often with extras from the neighborhood thrown into the mix.

The family moved briefly to Plainview, Texas and Clinton, Missouri before heading back to Salina. In 1985, they moved to Lenexa. Kathy began working in the insurance industry, first at Stockyards Insurance, later at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance. She completed her career doing administration for RWG Financial Planning. She led the choir at Crossroads RCA for a time. In retirement, month’s long RV road-trips with Bob and the dogs brought much joy. When home in Shawnee, she loved bridge, bunco and monthly progressive dinners with dear friends. After her breast cancer treatment made travel unviable, playing bridge and bunco gave her so much happiness.  Her family meant the world to her.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bob Gattshall, her children Sharla (Brian) Byrnes, Kim Gattshall, Chris (Kelly) Gattshall, grandchildren Dane Galbraith, Regan Byrnes, sister Darla Dodson, brother Craig Kirby and a host of first cousins, second cousins, first cousins once removed and friends who think of her as a sister or second mom.

Memorial donations in honor of Kathy may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation .