Kathleen O. Grasmeder, “Kathie”, was born on December 14, 1933 in Philadelphia PA to H. Grover and Mary O’Connor. She was one of 7 children and a standout in field hockey and academics. Kathie graduated from Rosemont College in 1955 with a degree in education.

She married John Martin Grasmeder, a young Army Lieutenant, on October 8, 1955 and they spent the next 58 years together, traveling the world and being the most amazing parents to six children. Kathie was the consummate Army wife and could cook up a meal for a crowd, while taking care of her children and she never stopped smiling. She used any excuse to celebrate, and her house was always full of fun and laughter.

Kathie worked as a travel agent, a tax preparer, and a Realtor. In retirement, Kathie and Jack settled in Colonial Beach, VA on the water, and loved watching the sunsets together. Kathie, or Kate, as Jack called her, lost a courageous battle to cancer on Friday, February 21, 2014, with Jack at her side, as always.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Bill and Tom, and her sister, Joan Roperto, and an infant son, Thomas. She is survived by five children, Jon (Maria), Margee (Nick) Mangus, Christine (Mark) Richardson, Mark (Dympna), and Chuck (Sophie). She also leaves 11 grandchildren: Jim, Bill, Allison, Jack, Sarah, Ellie and Danny Grasmeder, Nicholas and Anthony Mangus, and Tim and Carly Richardson to miss their Grandmom dearly. Kathie is survived by three sisters, Margie Leighton, Connie Izzo, and Bobbie Fasy, as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 pm on March 1, 2014 at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Colonial Beach VA.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or the Fisher House http://www.fisherhouse.org.