Kathleen "Kay" Pagoaga
1925 ~ 2017
Kathleen "Kay" Pagoaga, 91, of Boise, died peacefully on Thursday, August 10, 2017, in Boise. She was born on October 23, 1925, in Weiser, Idaho to Oren and Rosemary Wilson. She was the second eldest of four sisters and one brother. They were very special to her. She was very proud of her Weiser and half Italian heritage. Some of her fondest memories were the idyllic days growing up on the O.C. Wilson Ranch and attending the two room Hale School on the Weiser Flats.
Kay graduated from Weiser High School in 1943. With World War II looming, Kay ventured off to become a "Rosie the Riveter" in the ship yards in Portland, Oregon. There she realized that her calling was in the field of medicine and she moved to Boise were she enrolled in St. Alphonsus Nursing School. After 3 years of study, Kay graduated with top marks. She loved being a nurse and living in Boise.
With War World II over, in a lively night spot in Boise, some friends introduced the beautiful Kay to a handsome and single Japanese POW survivor named Richard Pagoaga. After a courtship, they were married at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Weiser, Idaho and remained married for 61 years until Richard's passing in 2015. Kay and Richard had two children, Jill and Rich Jr. She was a wonderful mother. She left her career in nursing to care for her darling Jill who had become terminally stricken with a brain tumor. In her fifties, Kay went back to nursing school to get recertified and practiced nursing first at Mercy Hospital in Nampa then at the Boise State Student Health Center.
In 1985, Kay retired from nursing and ventured into an active retirement. She was an avid Bridge player, a veracious reader and an incredible cook. Kay was a very good friend who really enjoyed socializing and she wasn't shy about offering her opinion. She had an amazing knowledge of current events and a keen insight of people.
Kay and Richard enjoyed road trips and travel. For sixteen enjoyable years they partially wintered in Green Valley, Arizona with Kay's sister Dorothy Peterson. They also had extensive travels throughout the West, Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii and had several fun filled family trips to Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas with their son, their daughter-in-law Jeanne and granddaughter Abby. One of her greatest joys was being able to help babysit and spend time with her granddaughter. Kay was a "spirited" and special lady, who touched the lives of many.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother (our beloved Nana), her brother Harley, sister Dorthy Peterson, father-in-law Ignacio Pagoaga, mother-in-law Maria Yribar Abadia (our beloved Amuma) sister-in-law Vicky Peterson, brothers-in-law Albert and Henry Pagoaga, husband Richard and her darling daughter Jill. Kay is survived by her son Rich Jr., daughter-in-law Jeanne, granddaughter Abby, sisters Linda Wilson and Eleanor "Poof" Wagner, sister-in-law Marge Campbell and the extended Campbell and Wagner families. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff and residents of Brookdale Parkcenter and the nurses of St Luke's Boise 4-South.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Our Lady of Rosary Catholic Church with interment at the Morris Hill Cemetery. Following her service, all are welcome to join us for a Basque luncheon at the Basque Center.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or your favorite charity. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.summersfuneral.com.