Kathleen J "Katie" Wheelihan

Kathleen Joan “Katie” Wheelihan, 84 of Capac, Michigan died Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

She was born March 14, 1942 in Capac to the late Clarence and Nina Love. She married Charles M. “Charlie” Wheelihan on November 5, 1960 in Port Huron. He preceded her in death on November 26, 2025 after 65 years of marriage. She passed away peacefully in the same home she was born in, surrounded by her family.

Growing up in rural Capac, Katie followed her father, working in the fields, and spent hours laying in the haystacks looking for shapes in the clouds. Katie worked hard along with her husband, Charlie, to provide for their large family. She learned how to sew her own clothes, tend prolific gardens, and raised animals to feed the family. She canned nearly every vegetable she could and, when needed, dealt with the occasional raccoon or woodchuck that wandered too close to the farmhouse. Even with those demands, she made time to notice beauty, especially in the ever-changing clouds overhead.

She grew up knowing what it was like to have to rely on an outhouse before the farmhouse had running water. She even knew what it was like to go to school in a one room schoolhouse when only town kids attended the elementary schools.

Katie joined her local school board and served as president for many years. At the same time, she worked for the St. Clair County Library System and ran the Library for the Blind for years. As an employee of the library, Katie trained employees on computer systems as the library became modernized.

To further her abilities and for the love of knowledge, Katie put herself through courses at St. Clair County Community College and earned her degree. She became a union steward and then union president and fought fiercely for employee rights. During the years of service in the Library System, she had contributed and worked in almost all departments throughout her 27-year career.

Her dedication to the library continued well beyond her retirement. She served on the library board for many years and stepped down as president in October 2024 for a combined tenure of service of 42 years. She was also an active member of the Friends of the Capac Library.

Outside of her professional life, Katie became known as an exceptional cook, even catering a few library events alongside her daughter. Her hobbies throughout the years included ceramics, painting, square dancing, singing in the church choir, and she always had a book or two with her.

She is survived by her children, Kathleen Wheelihan, Virginia (Ron) Badour, Deborah (Kurt) Wheelihan-Dasher, Charles (Beverly) Wheelihan III, and Barbara (Scott) Bourgeois; grandchildren, Suki, Luke, Aiden, Sophia, and Liam; brother, David Love; plus, many nieces, nephews, and too many friends to name. She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Love; and sisters, Barbara Grubbe and Marilyn Love.

Visitation will be held from 2-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home. A time of sharing will be held at 6:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Reverend H. Thomas Kuehnemund will officiate.

Burial will be in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Kenockee Township.

The family is grateful for all expressions of sympathy, including floral tributes, memorial contributions to any charity of the donor’s choice, or condolences sent via karrersimpson.com http://karrersimpson.com/