Kathryn "Kate" May Geheb

Kathryn (Kate) May Geheb, aged 93, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2024, at her home in Vincennes, Indiana.

She was born on December 24, 1930, in Martinsville, Illinois.

At the age of nine, Kathryn lost her mother, Edith Campbell Hires, and was welcomed into the home of Lillie Thompson of Martinsville, Illinois. Later, she lived with Lillie’s son, Judge Theodore Thompson and his wife, Freida. In high school, Kate was a member of the archery club and played the drums in the marching band. She was crowned Marshall High School’s first homecoming queen in 1948.

She married George Joseph Geheb on June 1, 1949, in Marshall, Illinois. Kate spent most of her life raising ten children. She was hired by the South-Eastern Illinois Mental Health Center, and became the founding technician at the Lawrence County Clinic in Lawrenceville, Illinois. In 1978, Kate and George moved to Lafayette, Louisiana where she worked for the Vietnamese Resettlement Program and Cypress Psychiatric Hospital. After moving back to the area, she became the Executive Director of the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross. She and George also enjoyed running Balloons with Love in Vincennes. She was a long time member of the Mental Health America of Knox County Board and was instrumental in coordinating the Gift Lift program. Kate served her parish, St. Francis Xavier (Old Cathedral), by decorating the church and organizing and creating theme baskets for the church picnics. Kate and George received the distinguished Brute award from the Catholic Diocese of Evansvillle in 2001 for exemplary stewardship. She loved decorating her home and crafting and framing beautiful counted cross-stitch pictures.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Josep h Geheb, and four children; Margaret Ann Compton, George Anthony Geheb, Susan Jean Kroeger, and Barbara Louise Dame.

She is survived by her children Gregory Geheb and his wife, Kathy of Apex, North Carolina; Mary Primus and her husband, Robert of Lawrenceville, Illinois; Donna Kaiser and her husband, Michael of Bruceville, Indiana; and Christina Stinson, Janet Sievers and her husband, Mark, and Mark Geheb and his wife, Kimberly all of Vincennes, Indiana. Kathryn was blessed with twenty-five grandchildren, thirty-two great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

Family, friends, and others are invited to the Saint Francis Xavier (Old Cathedral) Catholic Church, 205 Church St., Vincennes, IN, to visit from 9:00-11:00 am on Thursday, September 12, 2024, to reminisce and honor the life of Kate Geheb. Following visitation, a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00am with Father Tony Ernst as celebrant. Following mass, Kate will be laid to rest next to her husband George at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to be made to the “Margaret Compton Recovery Hub” in Vincennes. To donate to the Margaret Compton Recovery Hub (MCRH) online, please use the Friends of Knox County Public Library donate button on this page: http://kcpl.lib.in.us/friends, and add MCRH in the notes of the donation. To donate in person, please write a check to Friends of Knox County Public Library and add MCRH in the memo or donate cash. Donation envelopes will be provided at the visitation and service.

Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is honored and privileged to be entrusted with the care of Kate and her family.