Kathleen "Kay" Mary Saunders Poetschlag

Our mother, Kathleen Mary Saunders Poetschlag, was born on 21 March 1926 in Los Angeles, California.  She passed away 4 February 2022 in Logan, Utah.

Kathleens’ parents were Thomas William Saunders and Hilda May Greenwood.  She had an older brother and sister, Alfred and Thelma Saunders, who lived in Seattle, Washington.

Our mother would often say she had an ideal childhood.  She was very close to her parents.  Each Wednesday night when her father would go to the wrestling matches, Kathleen and her mother would go to the movies for 10 cents.  Wednesday was dish night and every lady who attended would go home with a free dish.  She and her mom would go downtown Los Angeles on Saturdays to window shop or go to Cliftons’ cafeteria.  They would enjoy family drives on Sundays.  When World War II started, they were rationed gas among other commodities, so driving for pleasure stopped for a while.  Along with experiencing the war, mom experienced the depression, and California earthquakes.

Kay (as she was called), attended and graduated from Inglewood High School in 1944.  She then went to work at Bank of America as a teller until 1950.  During this time WWII was going on.  She and her friends would go to the Hollywood Palladium to dance with the sailors on Saturday night.  One of her most embarrassing moments was when she and her dance partner were doing the dish rag and she ended up on the dance floor.

Mom made lifetime friends, and it was one of her friends that invited her to attend a Golden Gleaner event at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was here that she was in the cast of a play opposite our father that they met.  They had to kiss in the play, and they spent time practicing, and that sealed the deal.  Harry Ernst Poetschlag was the love of her life.

Kathleen was baptized a member of the church in March 1949.  She and Harry were married July 23, 1949 in Los Angeles, and sealed in the Mesa Arizona Temple the following March.

To their union was born 4 beautiful children, Karen, Diana, Eric and Brian.  Mom loved being a mother. Mom was a beautiful seamstress and made many dresses for the girls.  She spent lots of time doing cub scout activities with her boys.

Mom and dad enjoyed traveling, but much of the time it was spent visiting the children and grandchildren.

Mom was the best grandma in the world to all her grands and greats.  She knew everyones name and birthdate and sent cards every year.  When the grands were little she lived in Anaheim and she was known as “Mickey Mouse” grandma.  Every year trips were taken to Disneyland and all the other fun places in California.  When the grandkids were teens, she earned the title of “Punk Rock” grandma.  The last title she was known by for all the greats and grands was “Killer Grandma”.  She loved board and card games.  She was an aggressive player who showed no mercy.  She would kill you in Aggravation no matter your tender age.  Hence the name “Killer Grandma”.  She would laugh when she got mail delivered to her addressed to “Killer Grandma”.

Mom attended all the priesthood ordinations, graduation and weddings of her grandkids until recently.  She sent birthday cards to everyone, and knew all the names and dates of birth of all.  She was very sharp and had a good sense of humor and liked to kid around.  She was an avid reader.  After family and church, her greatest love was chocolate and candy.  This was her main diet, but it must have worked, she lived to be 95.

In church she served in many callings including Relief Society and MIA presidents, teacher and Stake Primary Secretary.  She was a primary teacher in her 80s.  However, mom spent most of her life doing family history and researching her ancestors.  This and doing temple work for her family was her real passion. 

One of moms highlights of her life was traveling to England and going inside her mothers’ childhood home.  Other special trips were to the Hill Cumorah pageant, Washington, D.C., a church history tour, and a trip to Canada to go on a bear hunt.  Mom was always up for a good time.

Mom moved to Ridgecrest, California and lived there until 2020.  She then moved to Goodyear, Arizona for a year.  In November 2021 she moved to the Legacy House of Logan.  It was a big step for her as she always lived in the warmth of California.  Her Utah/Idaho family enjoyed her so much and what an opportunity to be with her and have so much fun.  Visits, parties, outings and having family bring by dogs for her to cuddle with.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband Harry, her parents, two brothers and one sister, and a grandson Andrew Barrington.  She is survived by her four children, Karen (Max), Diana (DeLyle), Eric (Corine), Brian (Patti), 19 grandchildren and 64 great grandchildren.  We love you mom.

We as a family appreciate the staff at Legacy House.  She loved you and all the activities.

Special thanks to Encompass Hospice, for the quality of care and love they gave our mother and family.

Funeral services will be held February 11, 2022 at 12:30 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 S. 800 E. Preston, Idaho. Services will be streamed live and can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

https://youtu.be/TvLV9iQSJes

A viewing will be held prior to the service from 11:30-12:15 pm.

Interment will be Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Cypress, California.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com