Blanche Gathof Kitchen

Blanche Gathof Kitchen, 83, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2024, surrounded by her family. She lived a full and wonderful life, leaving behind a legacy of love, family, and service.
Blanche was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Joseph ("Joe") Kitchen. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Marshall & Mary Ann Gathof, and her sister, Marsha "Sissie" Gathof Henderson, as well as a large number of extended family and friends, including John Brewer who became a big part of Blanche's life after Joe's passing.
Blanche was a loving mother and is survived by her adoring children Rebecca Kimura (Zorre), Karen Wellinghurst (Neil), David Kitchen (Beth) and Michael Kitchen (Katie). She was also blessed to have 14 grandchildren – Alex and Sam (Haley) Kimura, G.J., Allie (Wes Overstreet), Luke & Megan Wellinghurst, David (Haylee), Lauren & Mason Kitchen, Joseph, Nicholas, Ryan, Quinn & Shane Kitchen, and two great grandchildren, Hopper Joe Rosen and Olive Overstreet.
Blanche was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, and after graduating at 17 she went on to attend St. Louis University. It was her summer job as a lifeguard at Audubon Country Club that would set off a chain of events that brought so much joy into the world. There she met a young skinny basketball player from the University of Louisville, Joe Kitchen.
Because he did not want to marry a teenager, Blanche and Joe got married on April 29, 1961, 1 week after her 20th birthday and started a life together by moving across the country to live on an Air Force Base in Waco, Texas. A year later twins Rebecca and Karen were born; a year after that David was born in California and three years later Michael was born in Arkansas. Blanche was 24 with 4 kids under the age of 5 and living the life of an Air Force wife far from her original home.
Blanche and Joe brought their family back to Louisville in 1966 and embarked on a life of entrepreneurship. Together with friends Betty and Bob Thirlwell, they opened and operated the short-lived "Little Pizza Parlor". Then in 1971, Joe, along with three other men, pooled what cash they had to start up the Bargain Mart trading paper. They started by selling things from around their house, all listed on one sheet of paper. While the 4 gentlemen had other jobs, the plan was for them to make decisions while tasking Blanche to run the day-to-day operations. It didn't take long for their weekly meetings to become monthly, then quarterly, then to yearly, where she would simply tell them what was going on. Over the years Blanche nurtured and grew her business to publishing two papers distributed in Kentucky and Indiana and employing over 45 people until the paper was sold in 1990 to a national publishing company.
After Joe's untimely death in 1991, Blanche went on to become part owner and publisher of the LEO newsweekly along with John Yarmuth. She helped grow LEO's circulation until the paper was sold in 2003 to another national publishing company.
Blanche was a fierce advocate for individuals' rights and for those in need. In the late 60's she participated in the Civil Rights movement through marches for equality. Later, she helped form and grow the Dare to Care Food Bank and served as its chair, helping to feed the hungry in our community. Later, she helped mentor young women in need through a Big Sisters program. After retirement, and though she couldn't speak a lick of Spanish, she volunteered some of her time in a program trying to teach English as a second language. She never met a stranger, always wanted to know other people's stories, and always wanted to help.
Aside from her family, her biggest love was the Louisville Cardinals. Initially she centered her calendar around going to basketball and football games, home and away. She made many great memories with friends, children and grandchildren on road trips. Later, when she was not able to go, she would always watch, and even later when she could no longer see, she would listen intently. She always knew the spread, would bet Louisville regardless, and would cheer with all her heart.
She committed her time to the University of Louisville as well, serving on the Board of Overseers for 20 plus years as well as a term as the Chair of the Athletic Committee.
Back in the day Blanche would spend her spare time with her dear extended EEGA family, and the Goofy Golf crew from Hurstbourne Country Club. Their comradery and exploits were legendary, and their laughter contagious to all that knew them.
Blanche leaves behind a trailblazing legacy of success through hard work, an adoring family that spans multiple generations, and too many people to mention here that she cared for and that loved her very much.
A funeral mass to celebrate Blanche's life will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 25th, 2024, at Saint Margaret Mary Church, 7813 Shelbyville Rd. Louisville, KY 40222.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Joe Kitchen Scholarship Fund C/O Cardinal Athletic Fund, 2100 S. Floyd Street, Louisville, KY 40292 or to the Dare to Care Food Bank.