Kathryn L. Fredenberger

Kathryn Louise Fredenberger of Naperville, Illinois, passed on November 10, 2022. Kathryn was 92 years old and the oldest daughter of Frank and Hattie Mankin of Golconda, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her husband James Fredenberger. She is survived by her daughters, Jane Ann Fredenberger and Julia Kay Goodwin, son-in-law Tony Goodwin, and grandchildren Hattie and Maxwell Goodwin. Also surviving are her three sisters: Barbara Tippett of Palm Desert, California, Patricia Holloman of Maryville, Illinois, and Donna Richerson of Golconda, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews.

Kathryn (Kay) grew up on a hill up from the town of Golconda, Illinois, which is situated on the Ohio River in Southern Illinois. She was the oldest of five girls. Betty Sue, the sister closest to her in age, passed away at the age of 3. Her father Frank prioritized education and Kathryn as well as two of her other sisters graduated from Southern Illinois University with teaching degrees. After graduation, Kathryn taught English at the high school in Farina, Illinois, and later continued her education at the University of Illinois receiving her master’s degree in Library Science. She became the librarian in Casey, Illinois, schools where she met her husband, Jim. She would later say she knew she was going to marry him the minute they met. They married in 1959, had their daughters Jane Ann in 1961 and Julia (Julie) in 1963. After Jane’s birth, Kathryn stopped working and devoted her time to her family. They lived in Ridge Farm, Casey and Bement, Illinois, and eventually settled in Country Club Hills, Illinois, in 1966. Jane Ann was born with profound intellectual disability, and they knew services near Chicago would be better for her development. Jim was a very well respected and beloved football coach at Tinley Park High School. Kathryn was a very supportive and enthusiastic fan attending all his games. They also gave a lot of time and support to Park Lawn School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, where their daughter Jane Ann attended the workshop and eventually moved into the residence facility in 1982. After Jim’s retirement, they moved to a condominium in Tinley Park and then later into Sunrise Assisted Living in Naperville. Her daughter, Julie, was her angel, always there through all of her mother’s difficult times, and to keep her stocked in her favorite treats like biscotti. Kathryn liked to read, especially mysteries of P. D. James and Elizabeth George, and later in life she enjoyed watching classic movies. She loved shopping and wearing very fashionable clothes and jewelry. Her sisters were always pleased to receive her cast offs! The four sisters were very close and had many reunions and trips together throughout the years in the U.S. and a few in Europe.

An interesting anecdote: this past summer Golconda’s Herald Enterprise paper stated that 75 years ago, Kathryn Mankin, high school reporter, wrote she had seen a red airplane with the words “Super Bubble Gum” trailing behind it. Kathryn and family were very amused.

Visitation will be held at Vandenberg Funeral Home in Tinley Park on Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Park Lawn Association – Attn: Development Dept. – 10833 S. LaPorte – Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Envelopes will also be available at the funeral home.