Mary Katherine "Kate" Kroll

Mary Katherine “Kate” Kroll, 97 May 24, 1927 – December 14, 2024 Kate Kroll of Bloomington, passed away on Saturday, December 14 at Bloomington Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. Kate was born in Hagerstown, MD to Lawrence and Muriel McClain. She was the youngest of three daughters. After finishing high school, she attended Frostburg State Teacher’s College where she met her future husband William “Bill” Kroll. She graduated with a teaching degree and taught grade school for several years in Maryland. Kate and Bill came to Indiana University after he had started his graduate studies in Audio-Visual Education. Kate worked first at Head Start in Bloomington, and then continued teaching at Hoosier Courts Nursery School at Indiana University. She spent her remaining 25 years in teaching at Children’s Corner Cooperative Nursery School. Kate’s life was defined by her dedication to action. She was a woman who refused to stop moving. From delivering meals on wheels, to friends who had stopped driving, to climbing the stairs of IU sports games and theater productions when she could have watched at home, to vacationing with her family on the South Carolina beaches for over sixty years, Kate never stopped. Kate enjoyed going to IU football and basketball games with Bill. With her enduring positive spirit, she never felt bad after a loss, saying “we will get them next time”, no matter the outcome the game score. She squeezed every step out of life. It is hard to imagine a life fuller and more community involved than Kate’s. She served as host for hundreds of international students through the Bloomington Worldwide Friendship program for over 50 years. These international friendships lasted her entire life with one student even getting married in her backyard. She was a leading member of University Club always organizing events, with her favorite being the New Year’s Eve Party. She was a member of the Garden Club, Hilltop Gardens, Psi Iota Xi Sorority, Meals on Wheels, along with various social groups, and was an ardent bridge player in multiple groups. Kate was a devout and active member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Bloomington, where she served in numerous capacities as board member, elder, membership committee and in youth ministries. Kate is survived by three sons; Craig Kroll of Lafayette, IN, Kim (Lenora) Kroll of Nellysford, VA and Chris (Melissa) Kroll of Montgomery, IN, Daughters in-law Lisa Kroll of Bloomington and Nancy Kroll, of South Bend, six grandchildren; Krista (Rob) Hunt, Brian (Nenya) Kroll, Kandace Smith, Kyle Kroll, Stephen Kroll, Michelle Kroll, and ten great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kate’s memory may be made to the WFIU/WTIU William H. Kroll Endowment Fund. Checks may be mailed to the station at 1229 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47405 with “Kroll Fund” in the memo line, or contributions may be made online at https://indianapublicmedia.org/support/major-giving/william-h.-kroll-endowment-fund.php Funeral services for Kate will be held Saturday December 21, 2024 at 11:00AM at First Christian Church 205 East Kirkwood Avenue. Visitation will be held at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory 4155 South Old Highway 37 on Friday afternoon and evening from 5:00pm to 8:00PM. Friends may call at the church on Saturday an hour before the service at 10:00AM until the time of the service at 11:00AM. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

Tributes

Mary Katherine "Kate" Kroll

May 24, 1927 - December 14, 2024