Kathleen “Kathy/Katie” Ehlers

Kathleen “Kathy/Katie” Ehlers age 61 of Ava, Illinois passed away unexpectedly on July 17, 2023.

She was born October 9, 1961, to Nancy (Clevette) and Clayton Koss in Grand Marais, Minnesota. She graduated from Cook County High School in 1980. She worked at the local hospital as a CNA and also trained in as a dispatcher at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center, under the legendary Dolly Johnson. She moved to Southern Illinois, in 1984, and became a 9-1-1 dispatcher for Jackson County Sheriff and Murphysboro Police Department until her retirement in 2020 after many years of service. She received her degree at John Logan University, Marion, IL in Criminal Justice and Psychology. While working in law enforcement, Katie met a police officer, Curt Ehlers, this friendship blossomed into romance and they married in May 1987. They shared many years of memory making marriage before he passed away in 2022.

She was an animal lover and always doted on her pets. In her spare time, Katie enjoyed making quilts, flower gardening, candle and jewelry making, online games, and shopping at second-hand stores. She had a knack for making great craft things out of bargains. She was a redhead and had the feisty personality to go with it. She was an excellent dispatcher and had the ability to keep calm in stressful situations. She will be missed by all that knew her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Curt, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Larry and Betty Ehlers, grandparents Nassau and Grace Koss, Carrie Savage and Lubet and Louise Clevette.

Katie is survived by her parents, Clayton and Nancy Koss of Duluth, Minnesota; siblings, Colleen Koss, Duluth and Jerry Koss, Grand Forks, ND; nieces and nephews, Joelle Schmid (Justin), Clayton James “CJ" Koss, Samual (Sam) Koss, Jeremiah Smith, and Samantha Smith; sister-in-law, Linda Smith (Jerry); grandnephews Dylan Schmid, Cooper Schmid, Archer Koss, grandniece Amelia Koss, dear friends Mary and Jill; she is also survived by numerous cousins and other extended family members and countless friends.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

October 7, 2023

Gramercy Park Co-Op 4072 Haines Rd, Duluth, MN 55811, USA

There will be a Celebration of Life for our Kathy (Koss) Ehlers at 11 am Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Gramercy Park Cooperative, 4072 Haines Rd, Duluth, MN. 55811. We invite you to join us to honor her life with memories and story’s.

Please let us know if you will be attending, so we can be prepared. Phone# 218-525-8371.