Kathryn D. Oehmen

Kathy (Kat) Oehmen (Schalk), 53, of Mokena, IL, passed away on Sunday, January 17. She is survived by her husband, Rick, son Lee (Michelle); daughter Nicole (Steve); sister Mary Jo Solick and brother Michael (Carrie). She was a fun aunt to nieces Crystal (Mike), Shannon (Jake), Kayla and Lily, and nephews Ryan (Sydney), Dustin, and Tommy, who she also leaves behind. She is preceded in death by her son, Kevin, and parents Wilbur and Mary Louise Schalk (Fortman). She was a cherished friend to many and devoted mother, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, and daughter-in-law. You couldn’t know Kat without being struck by her warmth and humor. She had the biggest laugh and gave the tightest hugs. As a kid she teamed up with her sister to navigate laundry chutes, fishing trips, and a shared bedroom—and they stayed a team throughout Kat’s life. Kathy met Rick in her freshman year of high school and on April 7, 1984 they vowed to love each other until mountains crumbled into the sea. They loved each other fiercely for 36 years of marriage, three children, a parade of pets—including the impressively sweet and well-trained dogs, Moka and Piper—countless motorcycle rides, and backyard parties and bonfires with their friends who became family. Kat re-arranged her life to become a mother and still made it a priority to earn her GED after leaving Lincoln-Way High School. She was her children’s biggest fan. She saved every picture, basketball memento, milestone keepsake, and newspaper clipping and turned her walls into galleries of their photos and amateur artwork. There was nothing connected to her kids that was too small to hold significance. She loved to spoil them with unexpected treats like ice cream waffle sandwiches for breakfast and “French drop donuts” for any occasion. She drew a cartoon family on every package she sent, ran out to still-moving cars to welcome them home and wouldn’t let them leave the house without at least 15 hugs. For the last decade she carried Kevin around her neck and in her heart. She did her absolute best to make sure her three children knew they were loved. The way Kat lived her life reminds us to love hard; laugh loud, even—and especially—at ourselves; and refuse to let anyone tell you who you should be.
*In-person visitation will be held on Friday, January 22, 2021, from 4:00pm-8:00pm CST at the Vandenberg Funeral Home, 19604 S. Wolf Road, Mokena, IL. Due to the global health pandemic (COVID-19) and in accordance with public health mandates, face coverings are mandatory for entry into the funeral home facilities. Visitation will be limited to twenty-five (25) attendees in the funeral facilities at any given time and social distancing will be required. For further information regarding COVID-19 procedures visit https://www.vandenbergfuneralhome.com/resources/covid-19 . To pay respects virtually, please visit the “Photos & Videos” page on the day of visitation and share a memory on the “Tribute Wall.” To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. Rick Oehmen please visit our Sympathy Store.