Kathryn E Coombe

Kathryn (Katy) Elizabeth Coombe Loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on Bass Lake surrounded by her family on May 20. Born on November 30, 1927, in Biwabik, Minnesota, she was a graduate of Virginia High School and St. Cloud Teachers College. Preceded in death by parents Walter and Helmi Nopola, sister Mary Fredrickson, and two infant sons. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Roy, children Walter (Marjorie) Coombe, Mary Coombe-Perry, Roy Jr. (Kim) Coombe, and granddaughters Kathryn Coombe and Briana Coombe; Brother-in-Law Gust Fredrickson and several nieces and nephews. Katy’s passion in life was truly her family: It was all that mattered. A simple visit by her children or grandchildren would make her day, and she never wanted to say goodbye. She was a very special lady who will be deeply missed by her entire family. Her eyes saw it all and her hands reached out and healed. Her very presence brought us comfort and stability. She was the backbone of the family. Katy and Roy were married in Virginia on August 23, 1947. They spent time in Albert Lea, Hibbing and Virginia before settling down in Biwabik. She was a 50+ year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Eastern Star. Along with Roy, Katy owned and operated the Biwabik Times and East Range Journal Facts newspapers from 1959 until 1976. She was a fashion show model throughout the 60s. In 1967 she prepared, wrote, edited and published Biwabik’s Diamond Jubilee Historical Souvenir Booklet. From 1977 until 1992, when she retired, she worked for St. Louis County as a division clerk. She loved living in the home that she and Roy built at Bass Lake. She had spent many happy summers at the lake, first as a child with her parents, then later with her own children and grandchildren. She asked that all three of her children reach for the stars when they graduated from high school and left the nest, and she got her wish. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015, at the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert, with the Pastor John Szarke officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Rauha Cemetery in Palo following the service. The family would like to give special thanks to Doreen Hill for all of her care and support.