Katherine "Kathy" Lundien

Katherine “Kathy” Mary (Kreoger) Lundien of Burlington, CO, passed away at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, CO. She had an intense battle with her health for the last six months of her life, shortly after her husband (Rich Lundien, the love of her life) passed away in December of 2021. Kathy finally went to be with the Lord (and reunited with Rich) on July 3, 2022, surrounded by her three daughters by her bedside.

Kathy was born in Burlington, CO on March 25, 1949, to William “Bill” and Helen (Wilson) Kreoger of Burlington, CO. She grew up on a farm 14 miles north of Burlington and enjoyed a rural life surrounded by extended family, as her father’s side of the family also worked the land of her great-grand father, along with their own acquired land. Her mother’s side of the family (her Wilson uncles) helped build the house on the farm. She enjoyed connections with her aunts, uncles and cousins throughout the years and had a special bond with her parents, who influenced her in her Christian faith and encouraged her to develop youth leadership skills through 4-H, the First Christian Church Youth Group, the Theta Rho Girls Club, Rebekahs Club, etc. This civic mindedness carried on throughout her adult life.

Little did Kathy know… that she would live in the same home for a majority of her life (about 66 years). She transitioned from being merely a daughter, to a wife, to a mother, to a grandmother in the same home. This is where Rich & Kathy built a life together. They were married for 50 years and did almost everything together, as they were best friends. They farmed, ranched, did upholstery, raised children, watched grandchildren, traveled, worshiped & served together.

She was a “Jill of All Trades,” as she was a homemaker, substitute teacher, seamstress, farmer, rancher, Census worker, special education teacher, Title I teacher, case worker, business owner, grant writer, Head Start teacher, co-founder of Wee Blew Inn & Dynamic Dimensions, etc.

She graduated from Burlington High School (1967) and the University of Northern Colorado (1971), with an education degree in Home Economics. Soon after her UNC days, she married Rich Lundien and started life in Meade, KS, where Rich taught for three years. They then returned to Burlington to manage and live on the same farm of her youth, while her parents moved to town to pursue other endeavors of service to the community.

The First Christian Church of Burlington functioned as another main staple in her life, where she enjoyed several of life’s milestones from her own dedication and baptism to those of her children and grandchildren, to her own marriage and her daughter’s marriage, to her parents’, husband’s and own funerals. Over the years, Kathy served as a deaconess, board chairman, CWF president and Vacation Bible School leader. Kathy & Rich joined the Seekers group (a young adult group) that stayed in touch for around 50 years. She had friends for life and would help anyone who needed it.

Acts of service continued in the family line, as Kathy lived them out in her own life and instilled them in her daughters. Kathy volunteered in various capacities at her church through hundreds of funeral dinners, the church fair booth, meals for fundraisers, etc. She was a leader in her community. Kathy was a 4-H leader and helped to develop numerous seamstresses in the county over the years. Last fall, she received a Diamond Award for over 40 years of leadership service for Kit Carson County 4-H program.

Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. When you told her a story of one of their antics, or showed her a picture of them, her eyes would dance. She relished in assisting them with 4-H projects and helping them with homework. Specifically, she enjoyed cooking with Emmery, watching Hayden ride his horse and hearing countless Lakelyn stories embellished with an extensive vocabulary. She was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her brother Charles Kreoger (Sterling, CO); daughters—Katrina Lundien, Annea Lundien, Rylana Woller; son-in-law Justin Woller and grandchildren—Hayden, Emmery and Lakelyn, all of Burlington, CO; and numerous cousins that she loved dearly.