Kathy Reuter

Kathrine (Kathy) Ann Reuter, 80, was called to her heavenly home Saturday, September 28, 2024 after a short but difficult battle with cancer. Kathy was born February 2, 1944 in Denver, Iowa to Paul and Erna Matthias the youngest of 6 children.

Kathy shared fond memories of living in the small town of Denver going to a one room school until the family moved to the “big city” of Cedar Falls, Iowa where she graduated from high school. She especially enjoyed times helping at the family farms or the garden at home. Throughout Kathy’s life she held a strong connection to her extended family of nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Always posting pictures she received on her refrigerator or keeping up with them from afar on Facebook. 

Kathy met Don while working at Blue Line Moving and Storage and they married September 20, 1969. Having their first child together (Deb) in 1974 the family quickly grew when Don’s 3 teenage children (Brenda, Don J, and Gary) were later welcomed into the home. Through those years Kathy took care of the small acreage they lived at in Cedar Falls, IA doing work outside, gardening, canning, and everything else you can imagine. Many Christmas gatherings were had over the years at that house with the kids and grandkids and traditions they all fondly remember including ham dinner, lot of presents to open and bins of goodies that were stored in the entryway that everyone would sneak from (including Don who she had to watch closely😊). She loved to decorate for all holidays but especially enjoyed getting her snowmen out for Christmas. Kathy enjoyed doing puzzles and the dining room table was almost always covered with one she had in progress. She also loved reading, crafts, sewing and especially ceramics that she did for many years. All of the grandchildren and many other little ones she knew received a piggy bank that she made when they were born. After the kids were all out of the house Kathy joined Don traveling the road for 10 years before he retired, where she and their cat Snuggles acted as co-pilot. Don was a bit of a jokester and we always laughed that she had to try to “keep him in line”.

Kathy battled numerous health issues over the past few years which brought her and Don to Wichita, KS to be near family. These years were the times her strong faith was so evident. Rather than any of those issues getting her down she looked at it as “God still wants me here for a reason so let’s just see what that is”. During her time in Wichita, she volunteered at the elementary school handing out lunches and became the best sitter to her “grand-dogs” Murphy and Hank. 

While Kathy was often the quiet one in the room, she will always be remembered for having a heart of giving. She never complained even up until the weeks before her passing. She was still strong as ever, driving her car and living on her own rarely asking for help. But she was there whenever someone asked her to do something, and you could always count on her to be on time. Her prayer life was tremendous, and many people have stories of the examples she set in her Christian faith. She led and participated in many bible studies with incredible knowledge of the Bible and while she didn’t always speak a lot, when she did it was filled with so much wisdom. That faith was with her up until the end giving her confidence of her place with God in heaven. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E. Reuter; parents, Paul and Erna Matthias; brother, Roger Matthias; sisters, Doris Knupp and Nancy Platte; stepson, Donald J Reuter, and granddaughter, Rachel Reuter. Survivors include her daughter, Deb Bigelow (Dan); stepchildren, Brenda Wendling (Jeff) and Gary Reuter (Patty); brothers, Art Matthias and Loren Matthias; grandchildren, Ashlyn, Kelsey, John, Hannah, Kevin, Keith, and Ricky; and six great-grandchildren.

 A service will be held at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church on October 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm. While Kathy spent the last few years in Wichita, KS, her home will always be in Iowa where a celebration of her life will also be held with family and friends in June 2025.

Memorials to: Victory Lutheran Church, c/o Messiah Lutheran Church, 1241 N. Ridge Rd., Wichita, KS 67212. Share condolences at www.cozine.com. Arrangements by Cozine Memorial Group-Cozine Life Events Center.