Kathryn Stucki

Kathryn Stucki was born in Montpelier, Idaho on September 28, 1947, to Wallace and Louise Stucki with a passion and mission to serve others from a very young age. She continued to diligently serve acquaintances, friends, and family throughout every minute of every day of her life right up until the end. Kathryn valiantly fought through multiple trials and serious illnesses throughout her life. She was called home to her Heavenly Father after her most recent battle with lung and heart disease. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on April 2, 2025, in Layton, Utah.

Kathryn led an incredible life. From a young age she started caring for her 5 siblings, working side by side with our mother. She was our big sister. By the example of our parents, she learned hard work and compassion that she used throughout the rest of her life. She graduated from Weber State University with a degree in child development and worked at the McKay-Dee Hospital before moving to Mountain View, California where she called home for the next forty plus years. She worked at Standford Medical Center, and the VA hospital in various positions for many years. Kathryn was very career-minded and even started her own Nurse recruiting firm, after traveling the world recruiting for other companies where she was very successful.

The second half of her life and career began when she entered Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) where she completed a residency (1600 hours) and a graduate degree. Her testimony and faith helped so many during the most difficult times in their lives. Kathryn was there advocating for and ministering to those she encountered. 

She carved the way for women in the LDS chaplaincy world. The magnitude of her influence cannot be explained. One of her colleagues shared “I was impressed with her boldness at just showing up at the annual chaplains’ conference, uninvited. She invited me to do the same, but I was too timid. She made herself a place at the table though and was welcomed back every year.” She was a true pioneer of chaplaincy for women in the church. There are now nearly 150 endorsed LDS healthcare chaplains. More than half of those are women. There are also women serving in the military as chaplains, fully endorsed by the church. They would not be there without Kathryn leading the way and advocating for there to be women and non-military voices in the world of LDS chaplaincy.” She also launched and facilitated many women’s and Veteran’s group therapy sessions where she was instrumental in the healing of many men, women and children in her hometown. She loved her WWII Veterans Group. She spent her days thinking about those people around her and how she could help them. There are numerous messages, letters, emails, and notes from people throughout her life that she held dear. In short, they said “Thank You!”

She was a caregiver through and through, she spent many years travelling back to Utah while she was living in California to care for our parents as often as she could and spent many more hours on the phone speaking with Doctors, therapists, and lawyers on their behalf. She was a big part in many of her nieces’ and nephews’ medical care and academic success due to her tenacity and ability to talk to the right people. One statement she is always teased for saying was “Do they know who I am?!”

Kathryn organized the first Leo and Enes Bartschi family reunion decades ago even though she could not attend most of them. That reunion is still held today, and she enjoyed attending after she returned to Utah, reuniting with our gray-haired cousins. Legacy and family were very important to her. She often told us stories of her time spent with our parents, grandparents and cousins on both the Bartschi and Stucki sides. Bringing people together to make memories was something she enjoyed above all else. She was able to attend the 2nd annual “Girls Trip” in the fall of 2024 where she connected, laughed and cried with her sisters and many of her nieces and great nieces, a trip that she looked forward to and talked about often. Her legacy will not be forgotten.

She left behind five loving siblings, Steven (Sherri) Stucki, Mountain View, Wyoming; Lund (Kathy) Stucki, Kingman, Arizona; Nancy (Randy deceased) Matkin, Clearfield, Utah; Wynn (Lisa) Stucki, Ogden, Utah and Tina (Tim) Pfuhl Layton, Utah. She also leaves behind 20 nieces and nephews who she loved with all her heart, and they loved her. When Kathryn moved from California, she shared a home with Kylie and Ben Teuscher. She has always had a special relationship with her niece Kylie and her family, especially Kato and Slade Teuscher who were the loves of her life. The family would like to thank both Kylie and Ben for everything they did for Kathryn right up to the end.

We find comfort in knowing there was the sweetest reunion with our parents, family and friends that have gone on before.

A Memorial for Kathryn will be held May 17, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the Church, 125 Chapel Street, Layton, Utah.