Cathleen Joyce (Kemmerling) Stickels

Cathleen Joyce Stickels, 59, of Paw Paw, lost her battle with Leukemia Monday September 6, 2021 surrounded by family at her home.

She was born February 24, 1962 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Joseph James Kemmerling and Nancy Jean (Peacock) Williams who both precede her in death.

On August 17, 1985 she married the love of her life, Timothy Stickels in Paw Paw, Michigan where together they built their forever home.

Cathy is survived by her husband Tim; her children, Ricki and Kurt Strasser, and Brandi and Greg Goodrich; her four legged kids, Baby Kitty and Graci; her six grandchildren, Jamison Hamilton, Joe Strasser, Zack Strasser, Marshall Goodrich, Alysha and Noah Sherman; her Mom Linda (Ken) Davis; two sisters, Tammy Hamstra and Pam Chambers; one brother, Mike Kemmerling and one great-granddaughter, Adelynne Rose.

Cathy loved working. She enjoyed her jobs and was very dedicated and considered people she worked with her extended family.  She would always volunteer for community events like Festival of Trees, and Toys for Tots and plan and host employee parties while at First of America and National City.  In 2011 she began working at Alliance Home Health Care where everyone became her 2nd family and forever friends.

Cathy enjoyed reading and watching movies. She also loved making over the top cakes for her Grandchildren’s birthdays. But her real passion was the holidays and planning parties for them. This could be seen in her extravagant 4th of July fireworks and her annual Halloween Spooktacular. Christmas and Halloween were her time to shine, Cathy was best known for her elaborate Christmas wonderland and spooky haunted house. She collected a wide variety of decorations and she would have her children or grandchildren help her pull out the abundance of decorations and would spend countless hours setting up each year. Her Halloween village became so elaborate that it became a year-round permanent fixture in the living room and she always made sure to show it to everyone who visited.

Following Cathys wishes, A Celebration of Life will be held  Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the family home 39026 67th Ave Paw Paw, MI 49079. To honor Cathys love for parties and holidays the family will be hosting a potluck and encourage guests to bring a Halloween or Christmas themed dish to pass.

Memorial contributions may be made to  Animals Best Friend Fund PO Box 443
Oshtemo, MI 49077 or by going to animalsbestfriendfund.org or can be made directly to the family.