Kathleen A (O’Keefe) Watkins, 73, of Delavan, passed away Jan. 25, 2015, in her home in Tucson, Ariz.
Kathy was born in Madison in 1941 and moved to South Pasadena, Calif., as a young child. She graduated from South Pasadena High School, after which she attended Knapp College of Nursing in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Shortly after graduation, she returned to Madison where she worked as a registered nurse and met her husband, Lowell Watkins. They were married on March 7, 1964. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Delavan where Kathy worked for many years as a registered nurse at Willowfield Nursing Home, after which she worked at the Janesville Riverview Clinic location in Delavan.
Her enthusiastic commitment to nursing and to taking care of others was exemplified by her support of various charitable organizations, often with her time, energy and generosity. She retired from nursing in 1997 after surviving a brain aneurism. Starting in 2002, she and her husband enjoyed spending winters in Tucson.
Kathy started attending services at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church shortly after moving to Delavan. For many years, she enjoyed leading Bible study groups. Her faith in Jesus Christ as her savior remained strong throughout her life.
She is survived by her husband, Lowell; her daughter, Jennifer L. Watkins of Alexandria, Va; her son, Brent Watkins; his wife, Jennifer Dobyns Watkins; her two grandchildren, Reilly and Katherine, of Tucson, Ariz.; her brother, Stan O’Keefe; and nephew, Thomas O’Keefe of Madison. She was preceded in death by her mother, Laveda (Roehrs) O’Keefe, of Wonewoc; father, Robert O’Keefe, of Arcadia, Calif.; and her brother, Gary O’Keefe, of Las Vegas.
The service was at Bring’s Broadway Chapel in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 29.
She was a truly generous, caring, supportive, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, nurse and friend. Throughout her life, she remained committed to helping others in any way she could. In lieu of gifts, please honor her memory with a donation to your favorite charity.
