Kathy Kay (Kalin) Clevenger, 69, of Grinnell, IA went to be with Jesus on Friday, August 2, 2024.

A celebration of life will be held at the AmericInn, 1 AmericInn Way, Monmouth, Illinois from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Memories and condolences may be shared with Kathy's family on the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory website at www.smithfh.com.

Kathryn Kay Kalin was born in Galesburg, IL to Harvey and Vera (Francis) Kalin on August 26, 1954. She graduated from Galesburg High School.

Kathy was a hardworking woman who spent many years working for American Studios, Robert Half International, and Community National Bank. Kathy loved spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren. Despite the long work hours of her demanding jobs, you could always find her in the bleachers of her children's and grandchildren's sporting events. She had a green thumb like no other and she found such joy in the aesthetics of her flowers and plants that were displayed around the inside and outside of her home. Kathy was an avid sunbather and loved her Diet Coke! She was a poet and writer at heart. She was an optimistic woman who faced all of life's adversities with a sincere and optimistic, "well, praise the Lord" in the midst of even the worst of circumstances. Perseverance and sheer determination were her saving graces on this side of heaven. She was a woman who exuded many characteristics of Christ and she lived her life as a good and faithful servant. She was loved dearly by her husband and will be missed tremendously by her family and friends but we find comfort in the knowledge that she is in the arms of Jesus, pain free, and that we will see her again soon.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 42 years, Kevin Clevenger of Grinnell; daughters, Karla (Justin) Dodge of Reynolds, IL, Kayla (Derrick) Daudelin of Newton, IA, and Kyla (Felipe) of Macomb, IL; son, Kaleb (Heidi) Clevenger of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Kaylin (Thomas), Kyleb, Hunter, Lilly, Audree, Teddy, Emeree, and Amelia; and her brother, Kip (Cindy) Kalin of Monmouth, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her son, Kyleb.