Kathryn Virginia Willard

Kathryn Virginia (nee Jones) Willard, passed away August 30, 2015 in St. Joseph, Michigan. Kathryn was born and raised on the family dairy farm in Poplar, Wisconsin. She later became a resident of Buchanan, Michigan and a career Michigan educator. Kathryn is survived by sons Laird and Lance; daughters Brooke (Ron) Hefner, and Lindsey (Dave) Flannery. She is also survived by grandchildren April (Troy) Baker, great grandchild Amira Baker, Lauren (Andy) Ellis, Kelsey Flannery, Ryan Flannery, Kyle Hefner, and Regan Hefner. Following high school in Poplar, Kathryn attended the Superior State Teachers College, and graduated in the spring of 1945 with a degree in English and a minor in Art. While at college, Kathryn attended Vocational School (for typewriting) and worked for the National Youth Association (NYA). During the summer while the war was on Kathryn traveled to Madison with two other girls to work at the RMR Corporation making walkie-talkies for the Army. During her senior year as a student she taught art at McCaskill School and English and literature at Superior’s Central High School. In 1946, after college, Kathryn joined her sister in Buchanan and began teaching art from 3rd grade through junior high and high school. She visited the First Presbyterian Church and met her future husband, Robert L. Willard. They married in 1947 in Poplar’s Bethany Lutheran Church and he assumed the Lutheran faith. They shared 65 years of marriage before Robert’s death in 2012. Kathryn taught at Brandywine Junior High School in addition to traveling to other schools to teach art. She also taught at Southwestern Michigan College as well as Lake Michigan College. Kathryn received two master’s degrees from the University of Notre Dame; a Master of Art and a Master of Fine Art. She also acted as an advisor at the Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve for planned programs. While employed and during her retirement, Kathryn traveled extensively with her family, throughout the United States and Europe. Kathryn’s love of art education continued throughout her entire life. She belonged to several clubs which also included the Berrien Fiber Guild. Undoubtedly, Kathryn’s legacy will live on in the artistic creativity she shared with students, friends, and family over her lifetime. Memorials may be made to the Buchanan Art Center or Buchanan Public Library.