Kathryn (Kathie) Tremelling Kunz Vallem, age 76, of Evanston, Wyoming, passed away at the Rocky Mountain Care Center on April 23, 2024, after a battle with cancer.
She was born to Clinton Lamborn and Theora Pope Tremelling on July 3, 1947, in Garden City, Utah. Kathie was the youngest girl in a family of 7 children, having 3 brothers and 3 sisters.
She attended elementary school in Garden City, Utah and high school at North Rich High School in Laketown, Utah.
After graduation she married Dennis DeOrr Kunz. Traci Lynne Kunz was born August 16, 1966, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They moved to California where they lived for several years. They later divorced. She married Paul Vallem and they later divorced. She loved working in her garden with flowers and vegetables. She worked for Alco Magazine Distribution for many years until she had to retire due to health issues.
Kathie’s greatest blessing was when Traci and Robert adopted her grandson, Robert James Sherwood Jr. (RJ). He was her pride and joy. After RJ lost his mother and then his father, Kathie became his guardian. RJ finished his 6th grade in California before they moved to Evanston, Wyoming for RJ to finish his high school years. He will graduate the 1st of June. She was so proud of his accomplishments and good grades at school.
Kathie loved to cook many different things. She spent hours researching and reading new recipes to try. She enjoyed preparing the evening meals for Lori and RJ until her legs and hands no longer permitted her to do so. They shared a home with her niece Lori Argyle Firth.
Kathie is survived by her grandson, Robert James Sherwood Jr. (RJ), Evanston, Wyoming; siblings; LaGrande William Tremelling, Salt Lake City, Utah; Myrna Tremelling Passey, Salt Lake City, Utah; Clinton Wallace and Velda Tremelling, Gooding, Idaho; Ellen Tremelling and Blaine Argyle, Randlett, Utah; Gordon Pope and Bobi Tremelling, West Valley City, Utah and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Traci Lynne Kunz Sherwood, son-in-law Robert James Sherwood, her longtime companion, John T. Martinez (Marty), brother-in-law Kay Don Lewis, sister Beth Tremelling Lewis, brother-in-law Ordell Edwin Passey, sister-in-law Betty Norris Tremelling, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Burial and graveside service will be held at a later date at the Garden City Cemetery in Garden City, Utah.