Kathleen L. Bloomstrand

The Visitation for Kathleen L. Bloomstrand (nee Brown), 72, of Hoffman Estates, will be held Friday, February 22, 2019 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, 123 Plum Grove Road, Palatine. The Interment will be on Sunday, February 24, 2019, 1:00 PM at Neoga Memorial Cemetery, Neoga, IL.

Kathleen (Kathy) was born to Jennie (McGinnis) and Chester Brown on her dad’s birthday, June 17, 1946. She passed away at home on Monday, February 18, 2019.

Kathy followed in the footsteps of several aunts who were teachers, and earned her degree in Education at McMurray College in Jacksonville, IL and a Master’s Degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. She joined District 15 Schools in Palatine, IL teaching her first year at Gary M. Sanborn School in Palatine and then transferred to Pleasant Hill School in Palatine where she taught until her retirement.

Upon retirement, she became a presenter for Cook County Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom program for the next thirteen years. She also served on the Commodities/Marketing Team.

Her life centered on her husband Jim and their beloved child who lives in Southern California. Her passion was tennis and her association with all the friends from that sport. Her competitiveness allowed her to achieve many wins at different levels, included going to the National level of the USTA on several occasions. Tennis for her was as much about the focused mind as it was physical stamina, and she brought this quiet strength and determination honed by the sport to all aspects of her life. She loved sharing this passion with her students.

While growing up on the family farm in Neoga IL, she was involved in 4H for many years, and developed a great love of the outdoors and being involved with animals. She loved to spend time with her beloved sister and brother and fondly recalled the many hours spent in the family kitchen learning excellent cooking and baking skills from her mother, of which her family and friends were the lucky beneficiaries. She also gained a love of music from playing the piano and clarinet in the school band. Every chance she could she participated in sports and followed her brother Don’s school basketball games where she developed her love of all sports. Kathy was an avid follower of the professional tennis events, Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls. In recent years she looked forward to the annual March family trip to the Indian Wells pro tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California.

As spring approached each year, Kathy eagerly awaited for warm weather so she could be outside planting the seeds that turned into the multicolored flower beds that surrounded the house, and tending her roses around the patio. She also looked forward to making several trips to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. As time permitted, she looked forward to traveling to areas where she could hike and enjoy God’s natural beauty. She found great peace meditating on the simple beauty of a sunset’s colors while taking in the soothing calm of the world’s stillness under birdsong. Kathy also became involved with her husband Jim’s love of antique automobiles. She traveled on early car tours several times a year and attended meets and other events with him. Together they planned tours for club members to enjoy.

A very important lifelong part of her life was her church, where she was always actively involved. She currently was serving as a church trustee at First United Methodist Church in Palatine. Kathy gained this strong commitment from her parents, who preceded her in death.

Kathy leaves behind her immediate family and her sister Janice (Scott) Hill whom she loved and cherished as she did an older brother, Donald (Alice) Brown, who was a role model to her. Also numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews, many, many friends and her church family.