Kathie Sue Burkett's Obituary
Surrounded by family and friends, Kathie Sue Burkett of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away October 26, 2024, at the age of 78. Kathie was born November 5, 1945, the fourth of eight children born to Johnnie and Aretha (Burt) White in Waterloo. She married Lewis Burkett and together they raised two daughters (Tymi and Yvonnea) and three sons (Michael, Kevin, and Reginald) along with a host of nieces, nephews, and a few neighborhood children. Their home was one of the places neighborhood kids would hang out. Lewis and Kathie later divorced, and Kathie never remarried.
Kathie graduated from Waterloo East High School. Once the last of her five children reached school age, she began working for the Waterloo Community Schools. While working, Kathie enrolled in college classes at the American Institute of Commerce (AIC) which landed her a position with Principle Financial Group in Des Moines, Iowa, where she continued to work until her retirement. She returned to Waterloo in 2019 to help care for her mother.
Kathie was a feisty lady. She was bold, courageous, and though sometimes afraid, would stand up for what she believed was right. She enjoyed reading, movies, puzzles, games of chance, and pulling out the pink toolkit to tackle minor household repairs. More importantly, Kathie loved the Lord. She gave her life to Christ as a youth and that love endured until the day she died. She was gifted with a beautiful soprano voice and loved to sing in the choir. She was born with a servant's heart and often helped out at church and family events.
There to welcome her to her new home were her father, Johnnie White; one daughter, Tymi Alexander; one grandson, Gregory Burkett; two granddaughters, Ragan Burkett and Mishawn Scott; and three great-grandchildren; two sisters: Carolyn Speller and Kandi Brown; one brother: John White Jr.; one brother-in-law, Reuben Stigler; maternal and paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Those left to cherish her memory include her mother, Aretha White; one daughter, Yvonnea Jefferson of Waterloo and her three sons: Michael (Lynn) Burkett of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kevin (Julie) Burkett residing in New Providence, Iowa, and Reginald Burkett of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Two brothers: Robert (Linda) White of Forest Park, Ohio and Anthony (Ida) White of Waterloo. One brother-in-law, Wendell Speller. Six sisters: Patricia White, Inez Murtha, Ruthie Stigler, and Ruby (Charles) Wright, all of Waterloo; Cecelia Hollins of Minneapolis; and Mia (Mark) Robinson of Minnesota. One sister-in-law, Leslie White of New Haven, Connecticut; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Sanders Service
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