Kathy Louise (Stewart) Rhoade

Kathy Louise Rhoade, 59, passed away peacefully in her Sarasota home on Friday, June 23rd, 2023.

Born December 6, 1964 to Janet Stewart and Richard Stewart, Kathy grew up in Elkhart with a younger sister, Julie Yeakey, and a younger brother, Robert Stewart. She remained in Elkhart until attending college, but always dreamed of moving to Florida to escape the winter weather.

After graduating from Hillsdale College, Kathy moved back to Elkhart to be close to family. She began teaching at a local Elementary School, and eventually met her husband, Jeff Rhoade. They had two children, Collin Rhoade and Brendan Rhoade. She put her teaching career on pause to focus on raising the kids, and was a very dedicated mother.

Once the kids were in college, Kathy made her dream of living in Florida a reality. She moved to Sarasota, Florida with her husband and her dog Bingo. She quickly realized that Sarasota had more to offer than just warm weather and white sand beaches.

She began volunteering at a local non-profit, Women's Exchange, and found that she fit right in. She met some of her most cherished friends and enjoyed the work so much that she took a position as an employee. This organization became a big part of her later life, along with the marriage of her son Collin to Brittany Rhoade, and the birth of her four grandchildren: Eli Rhoade, Isaac Rhoade, Lillian Rhoade, and Eleanor Rhoade.

There will be a celebration of life gathering on Thursday, July 6, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Toale Brothers Funeral Home 40 N. Orange Ave Sarasota, FL 34236.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 pm Sunday July 9, 2023  at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd, Elkhart, IN 46514 where a time of sharing will start at 6 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Kathy has requested that donations be sent to your local humane society.