Kathryn Ann Pratt

During the evening of January 19, 2023 with her family comfortably close by, at the much-too-tender age of 67, Kathy Pratt quietly passed through heaven’s door after a long and difficult bout with ALS. Born in Indianapolis in 1955 to Edgar and Virginia Hauser, Kathy spent an active and often mischievous childhood romping about with neighborhood pals, older brother, Eddie, and younger sister and brother, Ginny and Evert. A graduate of North Central High School, Kathy excelled at Indiana University where she blew through the Business School; cheered with poms poms in hand at floor level for the 1976 undefeated, national-champion Hoosiers; helped to kick off the well-known Indiana University Red Steppers dance team; and laid the foundation for a long and fruitful relationship with the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She also found the time at IU to woo an unsuspecting graduate student by the name of Jamie Pratt, and together they embarked upon a life-long journey, having celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary just last August. Seattle was the first stop for the happy couple. There, Kathy began her career at the powerhouse accounting firm, Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers); her interest in accounting motivated by the desire to help her Dad organize the books at the family-owned firm, Oil Way (“It’s the only way!”), her summer time employer while in high school. Kathy and Jamie spent 13 terrific years based in Seattle, which created many life-long friendships and included an 18-month stint in Zurich, Switzerland where Kathy worked as a tax advisor for ex-patriots. Most important, in the mid 1980s they produced a couple of little people (Jason and Ryan), igniting Kathy’s powerful motherly instinct and calling her away from tax returns to her true love, raising a family … and did she ever excel at that! Terrific mothers, however, don’t just sit around at home eating bonbons; no, they get out into the community – church groups like Christian bible studies, charities, and alumnae groups … and in each of these organizations Kathy was a leader, including president, board member and almost always treasurer, normally one of the few in the group who knew the difference between an income statement and a balance sheet. In 1990 the family of four moved to Wilmette, Illinois on the outskirts of Chicago for a year, where Jamie taught at Northwestern. But that stay was short-lived; in 1991 it was “Back Home Again in Indiana” as the foursome settled in Bloomington, Indiana, where they have since grown considerable roots. Kathy never slowed down in the Hoosier state, where the “stork” dropped off a third son (Dylan) and she continued to lead alumnae groups and charities - Pi Beta Phi, Red Steppers, and Meals on Wheels. She also pursued one of her passions – ball room dancing. Indeed, she even competed in a Dancing with the Stars-like competition, which raised nearly $100,000 for the local Meals on Wheels chapter … for which of course she was president at the time! What a gal! Also worth a mention, during the 30+ years in Bloomington Kathy managed a very active and complex rental property in the Bahamas and still found time to move to France for a year and enroll her 3 young boys in French schools – an endeavor not for the faint of heart. While Kathy was an extremely talented leader and active participant in just about everything you can think of, she always found the time to lovingly look after her husband and boys. Family was always first and as the boys have grown to men creating their own families, the family-first idea has extended to a daughter in-law (Aleksandrina from Bulgaria) and two wonderful grandchildren – Oliver (6) and Scarlett, who claims “Just about 4.” It’s a slam dunk that Kathy was simply THE BEST MOM/NANA EVER … and that love was also generously shared with friends from all over the world. As she fought ALS it was staggering just how many people from so many walks of life offered beautiful thoughts of prayer and support. Indeed, as the “Wizard” advised the tin woodsmen … “A heart is measured not only by how much it loves, but how much it is loved by others” and the love we all hold for Kathy will undoubtedly spill over to others, helping us all to mold a better world. And finally, there is one more legacy … Kathy’s Christian faith gave her incredible courage to face what many of us consider the great unknown. Just maybe she didn’t think of it that way. Indeed, she was very special! A gathering will be held to celebrate Kathy’s extraordinary life at a date to be determined. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 South Old State Road 37, Bloomington, has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

Tributes

Kathryn Ann Pratt

March 24, 1955 - January 19, 2023