Catherine A. Derowitsch

Catherine A. Derowitsch, 82, of Belleville, Kansas passed away on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023.  She was born on October 11th, 1941 to Clarence Albert and Fannie Marie (Bates) Williams. She grew up in Belleville, Kansas with her six siblings, Wayne, Robert, Dennis, Donna, Norman, and Nancy.

Catherine attended Belleville schools and graduated from Belleville High School in 1960. She then worked her entire career as Belleville City Clerk. She retired in 2004.

She married Kenneth “Cobb” Ketterman in 1972 and gained three children, Steven “Hank”, “Nub”, and Toni.  Kenneth and Catherine had a daughter, Linda. After Kenneth’s death in 1978, Catherine went on to marry Billy Derowitsch in 1981, gaining two more children, Cindy and Kevin. They were married for almost 30 years until his death in 2010.

After her retirement Catherine watched her grandchildren, and volunteered at the Stepping Stones Preschool and Awana Youth Group. She delivered Meals on Wheels, helped with the Rocky Pond Christmas Lights, and served for a time on the Belleville City Council. Her favorite and most time consuming activity was watching her grandchildren’s school and sporting events.

She had a strong faith and was a member of the Living Waters Family Church in Courtland, Kansas.

She was generous, spunky, funny, feisty, and witty, cracking jokes even when she was in the hospital.

Catherine loved and will be missed by her children, Linda Thumann (Brett) of Belleville, Ks, Cindy Dempster (Richard) of Manhattan, Ks, Kevin Derowitsch (Deanna) of Belleville, Ks, and Toni (Ketterman) Morrisey of Webb City, Mo; grandchildren Jason Sorell (Holly), Melissa Shinkle (Jerry), Matthew Sorell (Fiord), John Dempster (Amanda), Rachel Bembry (Derek), Rebecca Poteet (Matt), Richard Dempster, Sarah Edinger (Killian), Samuel Dempster (Anna), Megan Love, Alyssa Millington (Brian), Brenna Finnazzo (Nick), Brady Thumann (Shannon), Shay Thumann, Samson Thumann, Ava Thumann, Randy Ketterman, Brandan Ketterman, Amanda Ketterman, Kelsay Crowder, Jackson Ketterman, and Kristen Ketterman; and 40 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Kenneth Ketterman, and Billy Derowitsch; children, Steven “Hank” Ketterman and “Nub” Ketterman; grandson, James Sorell; grandson-in-law, Mike Love; and her six siblings.

Catherine chose cremation and a memorial service will take place at Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Dwight Garman officiating. Burial will follow at the Belleville City Cemetery. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. before the service.

Memorials are requested to the Catherine Derowitsch Memorial Fund and can be sent to Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.

Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral home is assisting the Derowitsch family with arrangements.