Funeral Services for Kathy Fick, age 76, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Inman, will be 11:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill officiated by her brother, Dr. Gary Fick. Burial will be in the Inman Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Kathy passed away Sunday, September 20, 2020 at her home in Mesa, AZ. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Biglin's Mortuary of O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Kathleen Clare Fick was born in O'Neill, Nebraska, on September 4, 1944, the daughter of Walter Sr. and Doris (Parks) Fick. The family made their home on the family ranch south of Inman. Kathy was an active 4-H club member and in 1960 went to the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, representing Nebraska in livestock loss prevention. She also won awards at the Holt County fair for her canning and pie baking. She graduated from Inman High School in 1962. Kathy attended the University of Nebraska briefly, but returned to Inman to help care for her ailing mother.

After her mother's death, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1965. There, for many years, she worked primarily as a hostess but also held several other positions including assistant manager for Bob's Big Boy, a local restaurant. Kathy returned to school to earn her Pharmacy Technician certificate and enjoyed working with her customers until she retired in 2009.

In 2016, Kathy was reunited with her birth son Rob and they both relished getting to know one another and spending time together. She lived independently in her home with help from her son Rob and caring neighbors. Kathy really enjoyed being the guest of her neighbors at their holiday and family celebrations and spent many hours baking baklava and Christmas cookies to share with them. She was a 10-year survivor of cancer and overcame many of the challenges of later life as she became more restricted by failing health. Her friendly, caring demeanor was a comfort to many and she enjoyed chatting in person or on the phone. Kathy was able to travel to Nebraska for a visit at the ranch almost every summer, and for many years gained much enjoyment from her cats.

Kathy is survived by her son, Robert Schnuelle of Tempe, AZ and his daughter, Rebekah Polski of Madison, WI; three brothers, Gary (Mae Ellen) Fick of Ithaca, NY, Walter Jr. (Marilyn) Fick of Manhattan, KS, and Edward Fick of Inman, NE; and her sister, Debra (Terry Gibbs) of Kearney, NE. She also has many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Kathy was preceded in death by her mother, her father, and her sister-in-law, Kathy Faye Meyer Fick, Edward's wife.