Kathryn Ann Bidle Kammerzell was called home on the afternoon of August 23rd, 2016. The days prior, she was surrounded by friends and family while sharing smiles, laughter, and stories from her past. She was 77.

Kathy was born in Colfax on 2-11-1939 to Loren and Nida Chambers Bidle of Albion; she was born on her brother's 13th birthday. On 11-15-1957, she married Monte Kammerzell of Colfax, where they made their forever-home.

As a young woman, Kathy worked as a legal secretary, as well as tending to the livestock on the farm with her husband. As children came, and the family farm grew, Kathy was up at dawn cooking, canning, doing books for the farm and tractor business, running parts, and chasing kids. Her greatest joy was to have a houseful of people to cook for and entertain. She would find any excuse to invite family/friends over for a get-together, and her door was always open to drop-ins…there was always something cooking! The organized chaos at the Kammerzell house could be summed up by the sign in her driveway: "Children and animals running wild."

Kathy was a room-mother for each of her kids, frequently rounded up the neighborhood friends for pool parties and weekends at the cabin on CDA lake, made sure every child was bundled up as they headed out to snowmobile with warm donuts awaiting their return, and provided a busy and fun haven as a Host Family to travelers from around the world.

And oh those 4 grandsons! She loved her children, but those boys were the twinkle in her eyes-and could do no wrong! Her guidance and love (and cookies) helped mold the boys into the gentle men they are today.

She believed in family, friends, and community. Kathy demonstrated grace, kindness, and selflessness that touched the hearts of everyone she met; to know Kathy, was to love Kathy. If there was a dark cloud to be found, Kathy would certainly find the silver lining. Even during a crisis, she took everything in stride. Kathy and her husband's home went through a hail storm that ended in massive flooding, devastating their family home. Years later they lost everything as that same home burnt to the ground.

Kathy was Kitchen Manager for Colfax School District for many years. There, she carried on her legacy of cooking, community involvement, and her dedication and nurturing of "the kids". She found something special in each child that went through that lunch line, and made it a point to know something about each of them. She was loved by both staff and children alike.

Somewhere during her last hours she whispered, "I should do this more often…...I like everyone coming to visit…" She was a hostess till the end.

Kathy was survived by her husband Monte, and their four children; Lori Morton-Cousley of CDA, Mark Kammerzell of Colfax, Julie (Dan) Wooten of Walla Walla, and Jody (Ron) Conrad of Colfax, as well as 3 grandsons; Cain Morton of Pullman, Ryan Conrad of Colfax, Brent Conrad of Boise, Elya-Destiny Wren of Walla Walla, and Jacqueline Wooten of Littleton, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandson Royce Morton, her brother Vern Bidle, and her parents.

Funeral Services will be Friday, Sept. 2nd at 10:00 am at the Onecho Bible Church. A meal will follow at the church and the graveside service will be at 2:00 pm at the Colfax Cemetery. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Whitman Hospital Foundation or to the Leukemia Foundation. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.