Katherine B. "Kay" Caldwell, 89, died on Sunday (Aug. 9, 2009) in the Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena, Wis., with family by her side. Kay was born on July 8, 1920, in Quincy to Bryson and Margaret Smith Blackburn. She was a 1938 graduate of Quincy High School and a 1942 graduate of Iowa State. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a petty officer first class in 1943. She applied and was commissioned as an ensign, and while stationed at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hawthorne, Nev., met her future husband, John Caldwell. She was discharged in 1946 from active duty and was honorably discharged from the Naval Reserve as a lieutenant junior grade in 1952. Kay was married to John R. Caldwell on May 20, 1950, at St. John's Cathedral Episcopal Church in Quincy. She was a member of the Columbus American Legion Post No. 62 and the Munedo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where she served as past regent. Kay was a member of the Olivet Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Wis., where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the Social Circle. She was a former Cub Scout den mother and was active in many civic activities. Kay was a member and an avid golfer at the Columbus (Wis.) Country Club. Survivors include her husband, John, of Columbus; three sons, Robert of Lafayette, Colo., Douglas (Sharon) and Thomas (Jennifer), both of Columbus; one daughter, Susan Wingers of Columbus; 12 grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Patricia Bonansinga. SERVICE: 11 a.m. Friday memorial service will be held in the Olivet Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus. Pastor Lee Zortman will conduct. Interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Columbus with full military rites. VISITATION: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Jensen Funeral Home, 248 S. Ludington St. in Columbus, and from 10 a.m. until the time of services in the church Friday. MEMORIALS: Olivet Congregational Church of Christ Church, Alzheimer's research or the charity of one's choice. ARRANGEMENTS: Jensen Funeral & Cremation, Columbus, Wis. WEB SITE: jensenfuneralandcremation.com. Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.


Published in the Quincy Herald-Whig from 8/11/2009 - 8/13/2009