Kathryn "Katie" Nichols

Kathryn “Katie” J. (Pullin) Nichols, 77, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at her home in Overland Park, Kansas, after a 21 year battle with cancer.

Katie’s family invites you to come and celebrate her life on Thursday June 7, 2012 at the Goethals & Wells Funeral Home, 503 West 3rd Street, Mishawaka. Visitation will be from 1 - 2 pm and the funeral service will begin at 2 pm. Interment will take place immediately following at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger. Everyone is welcome to attend a reception at Mark and Gretchen’s home at 4 pm.

Katie’s family suggests memorial contributions be given to the American Cancer Society. Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.

Those left to cherish Katie’s memory include her loving husband of 57 years, Jack; her children Nancy (Jeff) of Brantford, Ontario; Dale (Frank) also of Brantford, Ontario; Mark (Gretchen) of Granger; and Deborah (John) of Kansas City, MO. Katie was very proud of her 11 grandchildren; Kirby, Kayla, Taylor, Christopher, Matthew, Scotty, Megan, Jacob, Hannah, Olivia and Sondra. She will be dearly missed by her sister-in-law Jan Pullin of Mishawaka; and by her brothers-in-law; Gene (Creta) of St. Simon’s Island, GA; and Jim (Carol) of Blue Ridge, GA. Katie also touched the lives of her many nieces and nephews. Katie was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Greer Pullin; her brother, Eugene; her sister, Anita; and her brother-in-law, Ralph Barker.

Katie was born November 11, 1934 in Mishawaka. She graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1952 and completed her nursing training at Memorial Hospital in South Bend in 1955. She then went on to marry her fellow high school band member, Jack Nichols, that same year. Katie dedicated her life to taking care of others and retired from nursing in 2005. Through the years Katie and Jack called various places home; Mishawaka/South Bend, Seattle, WA, Brantford, Ontario, Knox, IN, Kansas City, MO, and Ellicottville, NY. No matter where they lived, Katie never failed to engage in her community. She was always genuinely interested in people and had a joy for life. From talking her way into the kitchen of a restaurant to learn how to make the chef’s peach pie, to accepting a temporary work assignment in Miami, she never missed an opportunity to learn something new and make a friend.

Katie enjoyed playing the piano, traveling, and raising her family, always with a smile on her face. During her long illness, her strong faith and love of family helped her to focus on life. Katie will be forever loved and greatly missed.