Obituary: Kathryn K. Fishburn
Kathryn K. Fishburn was born on July 14, 1945 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin to Karl W. and Harriet C. Knipmeyer.
The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where Kathy graduated from North Central High School. Kathy had many wonderful memories of working with the Avondale Playhouse, where she spent endless hours and late nights with lifelong friends. Kathy went on to attend Indiana University, where she was a proud member of the Delta Zeta Sorority and the university theatre program. Kathy graduated from I.U. with a bachelor of arts in theatre.
Summers during her years at I.U. were spent working in Saugatuck at the Red Barn Theatre and visiting her family at Crystal Lake in Frankfort, Michigan. This was the place her parents met and married, both sets of grandparents had cottages and where she spent time with cousins and friends. She passed on her love for the lake to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After retiring, Kathy moved full time to the family cottage on South Shore.
After graduation, she and her husband moved to Oxford, Ohio where Kathy raised her children, Christy and Bill. She worked for Oxford Crisis and Referral Center, The Planning Forum, Paragon Company and Miami University. Kathy eventually started her own very successful company, Blueline Enterprises.
There she was active in the Frankfort United Methodist Church, PEO and revitalizing the Point Betsie Lighthouse gift shop. Whether it was participating in sailboat races as a teenager, spending time at both grandparents’ cottages on the bluff, driving the boat while her children, and eventually her grandchildren, learned to ski, playing mahjong with friends at the church, watching Jeopardy and sitting on the beach at the cottage watching her family swim and looking for Petoskey stones, Kathy cherished every moment she spent at Crystal Lake.
Friendships were very important to Kathy. Soon after arriving in Oxford, Kathy joined bridge groups where she met and forged close and meaningful friendships with Geri Dutra, Mary Jo Devillez, Eleanor Holl, Mary Troxel, Jackie Huntington and Ann Kirby, as well as many others she met throughout her 50 years in Oxford.
Kathryn K. Fishburn was preceded in death by her parents, Harriet and Karl Knipmeyer, and her sister, Linda VonHatten.
Kathy was a loving and supportive mom to Christy (Todd) and Bill (Karla). She was their source of encouragement and during hard times, their safe place to land. Kathy adored being a Grammy to Stephen, Katie, Gracie (Jared), Joiya, Daniel and Japheth. Her great grandchildren, Louie and Magnolia brought smiles to Kathy’s face every time she saw their pictures or facetimed with them. Kathy learned from her mother to be an accomplished knitter. She made countless sweaters for her children and grandchildren. Each grandchild was brought home from the hospital wrapped in a blanket made by Grammy. Now, her great grandchildren each have a Grammy blanket of their own.
Christy and Bill would like to thank the staff at Frankfort Pines, Bayside Hospice and Lindsey Bankston for their kindness and care for their mother. Per Kathy’s wishes, there will be no service. Instead, she will join her mother and father at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Her family will gather next July at Crystal Lake to celebrate the life and love of Kathy Fishburn. Christy and Bill encourage Kathy’s family and friends to play a game of mahjong, listen to Broadway tunes, enjoy a ride around Crystal Lake, root for I.U. during March Madness and read to your grandchildren/great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the National Alzheimer’s Association.
This obituary was submitted to the Oxford Free Press.
