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Letitia Kaatz Obituary
Tish loved her family, her magazine-worthy flower garden, and dancing. She was a very proud Nana of six grandchildren. After 30 years of dedication, she retired from Argonne National Laboratory and enjoyed time at her Florida home with her friends in the Villages.
She is survived by her daughter, Rona McCoy; son Rick Kaatz; daughter-in-law, Valerie Kaatz; her brother, Earl A. Cheese; her grandchildren, Kyla Charter, Sadie Dabney (husband Austin), Cally Webb (husband Samuel). Cara Arenberg (husband Danny), Gavin Keefauver, and Emma Kaatz; a great-granddaughter, Waylyn; along with Tish's very very close friend, Ted Reynolds.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lee Kaatz.
Visitation Sunday, December 27, 2020, from 2 – 6 p.m. at Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 108 Illinois St. Lemont. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, funeral services for Tish will be private.
Info: Markiewicz Funeral Home, P.C. 630-257-6363 or www.markiewiczfh.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Letitia Kaatz
Michelle Lawlor
January 4, 2021
I enjoyed working with Tish at Argonne, she was a great person and had a sense of humor to match. She made our work Trips an adventure. She always talked about her family and had a huge spot in her heart for them. Thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
George and Sue Shadduck
January 1, 2021
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Michael Meshenberg
December 27, 2020
Like many of my colleagues who have posted here, I have very fond memories of Tish, her great work ethic, her graciousness, and her friendly demeanor. She could always be relied on to get the job done, and well. She will be missed. My deepest condolences to her family.
Caroline Schedel
December 27, 2020
Sorry for your loss to family and Ted. I knew Tish from the Heartland Dancers Club. Lovely lady to know!
Dave & Lydia Slivinski
December 27, 2020
Rona and Rick - we are so sorry to hear about Moms passing. What a great lady she was. The memories of our families spending many summers together camping at the Club, on vacation together, running crazy around your basement and just hanging out. Not once do I remember your mom or dad being upset with all our craziness as kids. Those memories will last forever. I know she is now at peace with your dad - dancing to country music and watching over all of us now. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys and your families. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
Ed Tanzman
December 26, 2020
I worked with Tish in one way or another for most of her 30 years at Argonne National Laboratory and was her supervisor by the time she retired in 2008. Tish was deeply dedicated to our work, but never let its pressure overcome her sense of humor. I will always remember her huge grin as we joked about the inevitable bureaucratic snafus that speckled our workdays and sparked her creative solutions. Tish made so many Argonne friends that her retirement celebration (that Rona, Rick, and Val attended) outgrew the luncheon and filled up a last-minute open-house. We remained in touch and I got to hear joyful stories about Tish’s family as her grandchildren grew up. Knowing that she could not go on much longer, Tish told me emphatically the last time we talked that she had lived a happy life. Thankfully, Tish shared her happiness with all of us.
Ron Whitfield
December 26, 2020
Godspeed, dear Tish. You were a wonderful colleague and team player at Argonne. I always appreciated you can-do attitude and your effervescent spirit. You will be missed by many.
Patricia Riley
December 26, 2020
So shocked to learn of Tish´s passing. My condolences to the family and Ted Reynolds. I met them both at our country dance clubs.
Ken Bertram
December 26, 2020
Tish was a really high-quality person. She was exceptionally personable and efficient in her work at Argonne for 30 years. She could always be counted on in her many roles over the decades as leader and team member of the night typists, travel schedulers, teams of typists for large-scale FEMA emergency exercises nationwide, and Administrative Assistant on-site at the Lab during frequently intense daily operations. You always knew Tish would get the job done. Besides all this, she was unfailingly cheerful, brightening the day of all of us around her and often making us laugh. When the Chicago Bulls won their second 3-PEAT, she was lead dancer of our group’s own “Lovabull’s” celebration. Argonne was very lucky she worked there, and so were we.
BETTY LaTour
December 26, 2020
I'm so sorry for your loss. Tish was very proud of her children and grandchildren.
I will really miss her. I loved talking to her at our dances.
Helen Wood
December 26, 2020
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Tom Baldwin
December 25, 2020
Tish was a colleague and friend who always brought a good sense of humor and dedication to her work. She helped so many of us understand the importance of teamwork while working at times under tight deadlines and difficult situations. Tish could make me smile during awkward times and make me laugh during the truly funny ones. Since retiring, I often think of her kindness, positive attitude and hopes for her garden which she loved. These and many memories live on!
Bob Rospenda
December 24, 2020
So sad to hear about Tish's passing. It was a pleasure working with Tish at Argonne. She was an outstanding worker who was always willing and able to get things done in spite of the difficulties and deadline pressures involved. More importantly, Tish was a wonderful person and friend who brought rays of sunshine to the workplace.
Chris Saricks
December 24, 2020
Working with the FEMA REP program was always a pleasant experience thanks to the knowledgeable assistance and cheerful attitude of Tish and her colleagues. We keep losing the really good people.
Becky Criscione
December 24, 2020
Tish was a beautiful soul and a positive force to be reckoned with..her energy and love of her family and friends was contagious. Our hearts ache along with all of you.
Dick and Becky Criscione
Lou Lacher
December 23, 2020
I have great memories of Tish and her always being there to help me while at ANL. Always cheerful and I considered her a friend as well.
Marcia Major Jones
December 23, 2020
Rush was one of the first people I met when I moved to Lemont. Have many fond & fun memories from times together. Always had a smile on her face! Rest In Peace my friend.
Donald Newsom
December 23, 2020
My interactions with Tish are among the favorites of my memories of working at ANL. She was always pleasant to work with, and unfailingly an expert in knowing how to get things done.
RICHARD WINTER
December 23, 2020
I worked with for most of my 30 year career at ANL. She was a delight to be around and always helpful. She has been missed since I retired from ANL in 2012 and her passing brings forth happy memories of times passed, many related to CSEPP and exercises.
Ruthann Cox
December 23, 2020
So in shock to learn of Letitia's passing! We haven't spoke for awhile, but we do talk back and forth on Facebook. If someone in the family would get in touch with me I would so appreciate hearing from you. Such a great gal, we do go back a long time. Ruth Ann Carlton Cox, Cousin
Frank& Nellie Slivinski
December 23, 2020
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
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