Katherine "Kathy" Gniadek passed away on Friday, August 8, 2014 at home. She was born on October 12, 1928 to Ransom and Katie (Becker) Walker in New Madrid, Missouri.

In 1952, she met the love of her life, Chester "Chet" Gniadek, on a blind date. They were married in 1954 at the First Methodist Church in Mound City, Illinois. Katherine traveled for 10 years throughout the United States with Chet in his work with Automatic Electric/General Telephone Company. They then
settled in Stickney, Illinois for the next 36 years. Katherine was a very active member of the Stickney Reformed Church, worked for the old Haley School, and MacNeal Hospital for 16 years. Katherine was also an active member of the Stickney-Forest View Little League.

Katherine is survived by her husband, Chester; two sons, Joseph Edward and Patrick (Misty) Walker; 3 grandchildren, Megan Elizabeth, Jeffery Remington, and Brett Walker; 6 godchildren, Kathy, Christen and Michael Saccucci, and Elizabeth, Emily, and Thom Hotka; and a devoted niece, Debbie
Walker (Dan) Smith.

Katherine and Chester moved to Wheaton, Illinois in 2000. Katherine was a member of the Wheaton Christian Reformed Church and the Ryall YMCA. She was an avid reader, loved doing crossword puzzles and counted cross stitch portraits, and was well known for her cheesecakes.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either Faith Community Reformed Church, 6825 40th Street, Stickney, IL 60402 OR Wheaton Christian Reformed Church, 711 E. Harrison, Wheaton, IL 60187, OR to a charity of your choice.

Interment will be in the Becker/Walker Family Plot, Woodlawn Cemetery, in Campbell, Missouri.