Kathryn Elaine Lancaster

1944 - 2016

Kathryn Elaine Lancaster



June 19, 1944

December 1, 2016

Our dear Katie passed away at Tahoe Pacific Hospital North in Sparks on the first day of December. She was born in a tiny two story brick hospital building, then known as Washoe Medical Center, on a bright June day in 1944. Katie (many knew her as Kay) lived all of her life in Reno, except for a few short years in Carson City and Sacramento.

She was the daughter of the late Emerson and Louise Wilson. Katie is survived by her husband of nearly 33 years, Kent Lancaster, and by her children from her first marriage. They are Peter Breen Jr. (Angela), Elaina Polaha (Eric) and Jennifer Angella (Dave), all of Reno. Her grandchildren include Raquel Breen, Calvin Breen and Aidan Polaha. Also surviving are twin sister Marilyn Rusk (Bob) of Washoe Valley, brother Stephen Wilson of Minden, nephew Rob Rusk of Reno; as well as numerous cousins, grandnephews and a grandniece.

Katie attended several schools in Reno. Her first year at Huffaker School took place in the historic two room school house, which now sits at the entrance to Bartley Ranch. She also went to Billinghurst School and Manogue High School and graduated in 1962 from Dominican Upper Middle School in San Rafael, California. Katie then went to modeling school in San Francisco before returning home to enroll at UNR. Modeling gigs and college were not to last long, as in 1964 she met and married Peter Breen, and began raising her family.

Among her fondest childhood memories were the times spent at her parents summer home at Lake Tahoe. Together with her sister, they would swim and water ski; and they would run and roam among the pines of the forest, hardly ever encountering another soul in what is now Incline Village. The sisters also shared a love of horses. From their home on Swanson Lane, in the Southwest, they would ride their horses through town, lead the horses through the Truckee River and arrive at the rodeo grounds, rarely having to cross over a paved street. In her later years, Katie enjoyed watching the surf rush in on the Mendocino Coast. She still loved Lake Tahoe, a day hike in the Sierra and a Nevada sunset. Caring for her pets, large and small, and reading a good novel always gave her great pleasure. She realized that appreciating the simple things that God created for us to enjoy was vastly more important than winning the lottery.

Katie's engaging laughter and her wit are what drew many of us to her side. She might greet a stranger with a frown on her face, but it would quickly turn to a smile, as if she was saying "I've met you and I like you. How can I make your day a little bit better?" In the end her mind was wanting to stay with us, but her body said "no". She was a friend to many and she loved her family. Above all, Katie loved Jehovah God and had faith that He would someday fulfill His promises. As if from a deep slumber, she will soon awaken to an earthly paradise where suffering will be no more and every tear will be wiped away. We thank the many kind staff members at both Saint Mary's Hospital and Tahoe Pacific Hospital for their efforts in her behalf. Arrangements for a memorial service to be held at her Kingdom Hall on Holcomb Ranch Lane in Reno are pending, and will be announced at a later date. Katie's friends and family members will gather, perhaps in late Spring to share joyful memories of her life.