Kathryn Marie Fitchett Schumann, 73, passed away on December 11, 2020, in her home in Valley Center Kansas with her devoted husband and daughters by her side.  A private Service will be held on a date to be determined.

Kathryn Marie Fitchett Schumann was born on July 27, 1947, in Storm Lake, Iowa, the daughter of June Holman Fitchett and Dr. Vernon Fitchett. She attended high school at Heelan Catholic high school in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated in 1965.  She then attended college at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa from 1965 – 1966. On May 5, 1966, she married Darwin Dale Schumann at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City, Iowa.  Kathryn joined Darwin at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi where Darwin was continuing his technical schooling for the Iowa Air National Guard.  They welcomed their first child, Shelley, during this time.  Afterwards, they moved to Sacramento, California, where Darwin served one year active duty, while Kathryn continued being a devoted wife and mother.  They then moved back to Sioux City, Iowa, and a few years later they welcomed their second daughter, Angela.  Darwin and Kathryn resided in many states within the mid-west, and ending up calling Valley Center, Kansas, their forever home.

Kathryn enjoyed being a wife and mother for her family.  Kathryn attended K-State and earned her certificate as a Certified Master Gardner, where she started her own landscaping business, Down to Earth.  While researching her own family tree, she discovered her passion for genealogy.  This lead to her starting her second business Kansas Research Services where she assisted families nationwide with their own genealogy quest.  Her most famous client was the host for the television show Survivor. Through Kathryn's genealogy work, she was able to prove her family lineal, bloodline descent to join the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR).  Kathryn also worked at the Wichita Public Library at the circulation desk, she also volunteered in the genealogy department. Kathryn volunteered at various organization's including The Kansas Humane Society and the Valley Center Library.

Kathryn and Darwin are the parents to Shelley Marie (Friedhelm) Otto of Omaha, Nebraska, and Angela Suzanne (Hardy) Frey of Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  Grandmother to Jessica (Timm) Tibbott of Wichita, Kansas, Brandon (Ashley) Tibbott of Omaha, Nebraska, Alexandrea Otto of Lincoln, Nebraska, Julia (Eric) Smith of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Aaron (Bryanna) Frey (USAF) of Bree, Belgium, Hannah Frey of Mequon, Wisconsin, and Erick Frey of Oak Creek, Wisconsin.  Great-grandmother to Easton Smith, Mason Smith and Rowan Spitler. Aunt to many nieces and nephews. Fur Mom to Prince, Angel, Penny, Little Bear and many other loved animals that have crossed the rainbow bridge.

She was preceded in death by her mother June Holman Fitchett and her father Dr. Vernon Fitchett.  Her grandmother Bessie Nelson Holman Manning, grandfather Peter (Pa) Bonde, grandfather Clyde Holman, grandmother Mazie Bengston Fitchett, grandfather Harold Fitchett, uncle Kenneth Bonde, aunt Betty Holman Hines, great aunt Hazel Nelson Fergel, great uncle Jacob "Jake" Fergel, great aunt Florence Stark, and great uncle Marshall Stark.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Kathryn's name may be made to Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc., P.O. Box 14, Valley Center, KS 67I47-0014.

http://hopeinthevalleyequinerescue.org/donate.php

Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com