Kathryn A. Fowkes

STERLING – Kathryn A. Fowkes, 60, of Sterling, passed away Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Sterling Pavilion.

Born to Richard and Ruth (Mason) Hedstrom on Aug. 26, 1955, in Norfolk, Virginia, Kathy attended Woodlawn School, where she was a state title-holding swimmer, and Sterling High School. She later married her now ex-husband, Douglas Fowkes, and gave birth to the prides of her life, her three sons.

Kathy’s career in hotel management began in Rock Falls, and took her to Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., and her favorite location, Madison, Wisconsin. Wherever she went, Kathy became “mom” to the people she encountered, and made lifelong friends.

During her 2 years of declining health, she continued sharing her incredible sense of humor, sharp wit, motherly embraces, and illuminating smile with the nurses and doctors at various hospitals and, most notably, the fellow residents and staff at Sterling Pavilion.

Kathy will be greatly missed by those who survive her, including her sons, Chad Fowkes, and his wife, Stacey of Sterling, and Cory Fowkes, and his fiancé, Kevin Bishop of Chicago; her daughter-in-law, Toni Fowkes of Prophetstown. Kathy was blessed with six grandchildren, Ryan, Andrew, Michael, Gaije, Jeremy, and Robbi Fowkes, and two great-grandchildren, AJ and Anthony Fowkes. She is also survived by her siblings, Linda (Hedstrom) and Dennis Richards of Pirongia, New Zealand, Richard and Pamela Hedstrom of Rock Falls, and Marjorie (Hedstrom), and Dennis Burtlow of Prophetstown; her many beloved nieces and nephews; and countless “adopted children” she picked up along the way.

Kathy was preceded in death by her eldest son, Brian Fowkes; her parents, Richard and Ruth Hedstrom; and her nephew, Benjamin Fowkes.

During the final stages of her health struggle, she was comforted knowing she would be transitioning into the arms of these loved ones awaiting her.

A visitation and celebration of Kathy will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling. McDonald Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Visit mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com to send condolences.

In the true spirit of Mom, rather than sending flowers, please pay that generosity forward by sending a bouquet of flowers to your local nursing home, making a charitable donation to a health-focused organization, buying a stranger a cup of coffee, or simply taking a moment to share a smile with your loved ones.

The family would like to thank you for your continued love and support, not only during this difficult time of her passing and these past few years as Kathy struggled with her health, but more importantly for a lifetime filled with love and laughter.