Kathy grew up on the family farm located just west of Winside and attended Winside schools from kindergarten thru high school. After graduating high school in 1969 she went on to receive her LPN certificate in Norfolk. Her first nursing job was at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln. She would continue to practice nursing for 46 years, working for over 20 years at a pediatrics office in Lincoln and over 15 years with a family physician in Lincoln. She always said that when the babies she cared for in the office started brining in their babies that it was time to move on.
After dating in high school, Kathy married Keith Wacker on June 24, 1972. The couples first residence was in Norfolk, NE. Due to Keith’s military commitment they spent a few months at Fort Polk, LA. And in May of 1973 they moved to Colorado Springs where they would stay until October 1975. Then they moved back to Lincoln where they stayed. Their first son Corey was born in Colorado Springs in 1973, and after returning to Lincoln their second son Craig was born in 1978.
Kathy and Keith have always been active members of their church, in both Colorado Springs and Lincoln. Some of their best friendships were found at church and they have always found great comfort from the members.
While in Colorado Kathy and Keith fell in love with the mountains. In the future a lot of their vacations with both family and friends revolved around returning to the mountains for snow skiing trips. As the years went on, they found themselves not wanting to give up skiing so it was not uncommon for them to spend valentine’s day at the ski slope. Kathy’s favorite summertime activity was enjoying the sun on the front of a boat, particularly while floating on the crystal-clear water of Table Rock Lake.
Following retirement, Kathy and Keith became active in the Nebraska Corvette Association with their his-and-her corvettes participating in car shows and winning their share of trophies. After joining the Corvette club she enjoyed the friendships and traveling with their new friends and club members.
Kathy enjoyed knitting and toll painting. Through the years she knitted several items for both family and friends and served as a member of the church prayer shawl team. There are numerous paintings and craft projects throughout not only her house but the houses of her family thanks to Kathy’s artistic touch. Kathy also loved her DIY house projects, and if Keith wasn’t moving fast enough for her, she would go forward and start it herself knowing that once it was started Keith would have no choice but to help finish it. You might call it 52 years of husband training.
Kathy was preceded in death by parents Arleen and Clarence Pfeiffer, in-laws Marcella and Howard Wacker, niece Emily Pfeiffer, and nephew Joel Pfeiffer. She is survived by husband Keith; sons Corey (Melissa) Wacker and Craig Wacker (Lindsay Rogers); grandchildren Adrian, Chandler (Ethan), Lucinda and Samuel; brothers Lee (Jodene), Larry (Sharron), Monte (Paula), Mitch (Julie), and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Southwood Lutheran Church on Monday, July 29 at 10:30am with a lunch following.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice, or to the family for future designation.