Kathryn Anne Callihan, 89, of Paxton, Nebraska, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. Kathryn was born January 31, 1935, in Lincoln County, Nebraska to parents Bernard Joseph and Anne Marie (Valish) Guynan. Kathryn received her high school diploma in the 1952 graduating class of St. Patrick's Academy in Sidney, NE.
In October of 1953, she was wed to her husband, Lowell Gene Holz in Paxton, NE. Kathryn and Lowell had five children, which brought her a very active lifestyle. She was always on the go with school programs, after-school activities, sports and more.
Kathryn was very active in the St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Paxton, NE, and a member of their Altar Society for decades. In 2023, she received her 50-year membership pin from the Paxton American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed reading, playing bridge and enjoying coffee (or a cold beer) while visiting with her many friends. Time with her family, whom she was so proud of, was one of Kathryn's greatest joys in life.
She will be remembered for her sense of humor, mischievous personality, sense of style and hard work ethic. Along with raising her five children, she held several jobs, including housekeeping for multiple homes, reading electric meters, calling Keno, driving a school bus route and was a salesclerk at Ogallala's JCPenney and Sears stores. Kathryn also worked for the Keith County Election Board for over 50 years.
In 1997, Lowell proceeded Kathryn in death. She was later remarried to Bob Callihan in 2000, who also passed away in 2023. Others to proceed her in death are her two sisters, Mary Alice Grow and Veronica Derry, and two grandsons, James Taylor Holz and Joseph Edward Holz.
Kathryn is survived by her five children and their families: daughter Connie (Gary) Frosh of Paxton, NE and her children, grandson Shane (Kacey Moreland) Berry of Omaha, N, granddaughter Katy (Vince) Hoover of Ogallala, NE and her children, great-granddaughter Aubri and her son, great-great-grandson Landon, and great-grandson Austin; granddaughter Christi (Andy) Koontz of Wichita, KS and their children, great-grandson Adler and great-granddaughter Averi; son Bernard (Pam Belus) Holz of Banner, WY and his children, granddaughter Morgan (Jeremy Butterfield-Bradford) Holz of Cheyenne, WY and their son, great-grandson Jaxon, and grandson Gus Holz of Seattle, WA; son Jim (Deb) Holz of Paxton, NE and their children, granddaughter Madison (Dave) Diener of Paxton, NE and their children, great- granddaughter Iris and great-grandson Maks, granddaughter Carli (Jackson) Eds of Overland Park, KS and granddaughter Emma Holz of Paxton, NE; daughter Jan (Court) Goodman of Omaha, NE and her children, granddaughter Alexis (Kayle) Davis, granddaughter Paige (Todd) Davis and grandson Adam (Georgia) Davis of Lincoln, NE; son Scott (Laney Veteto) Holz of Bartlesville, OK and his children, granddaughter Sarah Reece of Tulsa, OK and her children, great-grandson Sebastian and great- granddaughter Penelope, and granddaughter Savannah (Hagan Tome) Holz of Tulsa, OK. Kathryn is also survived by a host of other family, friends and loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Paxton, NE or Paxton's American Legion Auxiliary. Condolences can be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.
Funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Paxton with Father Bryan Ernest as Celebrant. Interment will be in the Paxton Cemetery.
Visitation will be on Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala. Rosary and Wake Service will be at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.