Honoring Tradition.
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Katherine "Kate" Tobin

February 11, 1958 - September 19, 2019
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Monday, September 23, 2019
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, September 24, 2019
11:00 AM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Kate Tobin was a special person to know and love. She will be missed by her brothers, sister, nieces, nephews and friends. Most of her family called her Kate or Katie Jo and her dad had a special nickname ‘Toots’.

Kate was born in 1958. Her parents Joseph and Margaret (Hay) Tobin welcomed their youngest child of seven a newborn baby girl, named Katherine Joan into their loving home on February 11th in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kate grew up on Garfield Ave just a block away from Lincoln Park. Kate enjoyed swimming at the park both in the little pool and the big pool. In the big pool, you had to have a buddy to swim; her niece Denise was a regular swimming buddy. Kate attended Sibley school, then Coldbrook.

Kate later attended Kent Occupational High enjoying her school time with friends. A typical teenager who followed the teen stars. Kate had a crush on Donny Osmond which grew into a passion for knowing and keeping track of the rest of the Osmond family. She liked pop hits and country music. She had a three wheeled bike in her teen years and delivered newspapers with it. Her best friend in high school was Margie. Kate and Margie stayed best friends and her family still remembers when the two of them would spend hours talking on the phone.

After school, she went on to work for many years in the housekeeping department at the Harley Hotel and later Days Inn on Pearl Street. During her time at Days Inn she was cleaning a room and it was Jerry Seinfelds room and he showed up. Jerry asked her if she watched his show and she said “no”…. I guess she wasn’t going to fib. She kept up her love for the Osmonds and kept up on all of her family. Kate was the family historian who knew everyone’s birthdates and kept track of the dates in a notebook. She was a longtime member of the Osmond Family Fan club and became pen pals with other fans across the world.

She enjoyed many special pastimes including traveling to Niagara Falls and several trips to northern Michigan. One of her favorite memories was attending the Osmond concert in Chicago, a trip she had planned for a long time. By the year 2004, she moved from the family home to Coventry Woods where she enjoyed attending all of the special events and activities. For relaxation, Kate enjoying making latch hook rugs and doing jigsaw puzzles. When it came to TV, old movies and British comedy shows were her favorite. She loved watching Keeping Up Appearances… they made her laugh.

Kate enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. She never passed up her favorite meal of spaghetti with just sauce and was sure to never skip dessert as she loved all sweets! Kate loved cats and had a cat most of the time. Once she was exposed to Facebook she quickly figured out how to send out cute little gifs of cats to her family and friends. A true cat lover.

Katherine Joan Tobin, age 61, of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away on September 19, 2019. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Margaret Tobin; brothers, Dennis (Judy) Tobin and Patrick Tobin; niece, Barbara Mason; nephew, Tim Tobin; and special friend, Margie. Katherine is survived by her siblings, Douglas (Connie) Tobin, John (Georgiann) Tobin, Maureen Tobin, Peggy (Craig Wilson) Tobin and Mike (Jodi) Tobin; and her special nieces and nephews, Denise (Kirk) Bajdek, Kevin Tobin, Tom Tobin, Nancy Tobin, William (Ann) Tobin, Joseph (Danielle) Tobin, Ann (Chris) Chambers, Molly (Rob) Burk, Julie (Dirk) VanZee, David Tobin, Sean (Yvette) Tobin, Paul Tobin, Clifford (Sarah) Riemersma, Benjamin (Ashley) Riemersma, Steven Riemersma, Jordan (Lindsay) Fennema, Jarrett (Loren) Fennema and Colin Tobin. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, September 24 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. The family will gather for visitation from 6-8 PM on Monday at the funeral home. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to submit a favorite memory, photo or sign the guestbook.

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