Kathy and I meant in gym class in our junior year and became good friends. She came down with mono about half way through the school year and had to stay home the remainder of the year. She was a bright, fun and warm person that I will truly miss.
Kathyand my wife taught at Alta Heights. Kathy liked Ila and asked her to move up from kindergarten to third grade so they could cooperate. She always wanted people to "have a happy thought." She was wonderful and we miss her.
I first met Kathy in the 2nd grade. She was cute as a bug then & that never changed. My picture of her will always be one of freckles and a great big smile. I was fortunate to know her.
On July 13, 2008, Kathy Bollinger passed away peacefully at her home after a brave struggle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.
Kathy was born on Dec. 16, 1946, in Napa, at Parks Victory Hospital to William and Mary Blanckenburg. After completing public schools in Napa, Kathy attended Oregon State University. Soon after graduating with a degree in elementary education in June of 1968, Kathy married Erwin Bollinger. Kathy and Erwin first met seated in alphabetic order in their senior English class at Napa High School. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
The next five years were spent in San Antonio, Texas and Eugene, Ore., due to Erwin’s stint in the Army and then graduate school. During this time, Kathy taught second grade and then art at the elementary and middle school levels.
Because of their love of Napa and wanting children to grow up with their grandparents, Kathy and Erwin returned to Napa in 1973. Kathy always said the best job in the world was that of a mother and she dedicated herself to just that — raising a son and daughter. After Rob and Kristina were well on their way at school Kathy returned to teaching at Vichy, then Alta Heights elementary schools. Kathy absolutely loved teaching and loved being an active part of the Vichy and Alta Heights communities for over 20 years, the latter where she attended as a student.
In 2002 Kathy retired from teaching but continued to be as busy as ever, volunteering with Community Projects and helping with three grandsons. She served on the Community Projects Board for several years and was proud to be part of this worthwhile organization and to work with such a dedicated group of women.
Throughout her life Kathy made it a priority to keep up with family and friends. She was always a positive, productive and perceptive force. Kathy was really a gifted people person who always encouraged and energized others. This was equally true with respect to her family, friends, students and complete strangers. Some of Kathy’s favorites were Napa childhood friends, Oregon State Kappa sorority sisters, teaching colleagues, former students and their parents, Community Projects coworkers, and the members of many knitting, quilting and mothers’ groups.
Kathy will be remembered as kind and considerate, as a hard worker and a loyal friend, as a great wife and mother, and as a person who, on occasion, could swear like a pirate. Kathy had a full, rich life and one that needed only a few more decades.
Kathy is survived by her father, retired Judge William Blanckenburg; Bill’s dear friend, Mona Humpert; her brother, Ted Blanckenburg and wife Caroline with daughters Emily and Rosie; her husband, Erwin Bollinger; her son, Rob Bollinger and wife Alison with their sons, Lucas and Will; and her daughter, Kristina Leamer and husband J.B. with their son, Mac. The whole family feels a tremendous loss as Kathy, more than anyone, stitched continuously to strengthen the extended family and ties with friends. The whole family also feels extremely lucky to have had Kathy as such a vibrant and important part of their lives.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 19, at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third St., in Napa. A reception will follow at a site to be announced at the service.
The family suggests contributions in Kathy’s memory be sent to the Napa Valley College Foundation, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa, CA 94558 for the annual Kathy Bollinger Scholarship for aspiring elementary school teachers.
Arrangements are in the care of Richard Pierce Funeral Service, 1660 Silverado Trail, Napa.
I was deeply sorry to see that Kathy Blanckenberg (Bollinger) passed away some years ago. I knew Kathy since kindergarten and because we were always the shortest people in our class, we were constantly paired together in activities from just lining up in the hallways to folk dancing partners.
Perhaps the most dominant attributes of Kathy’s were her kindness and thoughtfulness. However, what struck me the most about Kathy was that for such a sweet, effervescent personality she had an unfaltering determination. It evidenced itself in her entire outlook upon life and its meanings. She went from us too soon, and not in the manner of her choosing, but she was active almost to the last, never estranged from the pulse of affairs or the rhythm of life – glad to live but not afraid to die; strong in mind and magnanimous in spirit.
Kathy taught in the very same third grade class at Alta Heights School that she and I both attended as students. Her reputation as a teacher was unimpeachable. She was patient, kind, and able to accommodate childish tantrums and disobedience, yet had complete control of her classroom.
Kathy’s memorial service was filled with former students who gave heartfelt testimonials about her excellence as a teacher. Kathy was the kind of person who devoted herself to the most precious of the precious. There is no more noble calling than what Kathy did so beautifully, for so long, and with so little recognition from those she served.
Kathy taught every day to make our youngsters into better, smarter, and happier people.
I will always be deeply inspired by her life. I still miss her.
Marilyn Newberry (Rossignol)
Kathy and I meant in gym class in our junior year and became good friends. She came down with mono about half way through the school year and had to stay home the remainder of the year. She was a bright, fun and warm person that I will truly miss.
Mark Hohmann
Kathyand my wife taught at Alta Heights. Kathy liked Ila and asked her to move up from kindergarten to third grade so they could cooperate. She always wanted people to "have a happy thought." She was wonderful and we miss her.
Larry Hamilton
I never met a boy who didn't have a crush on her.
Bruce Erricson
I first met Kathy in the 2nd grade. She was cute as a bug then & that never changed. My picture of her will always be one of freckles and a great big smile. I was fortunate to know her.
Joan Arruda (Latimer)
On July 13, 2008, Kathy Bollinger passed away peacefully at her home after a brave struggle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.
Kathy was born on Dec. 16, 1946, in Napa, at Parks Victory Hospital to William and Mary Blanckenburg. After completing public schools in Napa, Kathy attended Oregon State University. Soon after graduating with a degree in elementary education in June of 1968, Kathy married Erwin Bollinger. Kathy and Erwin first met seated in alphabetic order in their senior English class at Napa High School. They recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
The next five years were spent in San Antonio, Texas and Eugene, Ore., due to Erwin’s stint in the Army and then graduate school. During this time, Kathy taught second grade and then art at the elementary and middle school levels.
Because of their love of Napa and wanting children to grow up with their grandparents, Kathy and Erwin returned to Napa in 1973. Kathy always said the best job in the world was that of a mother and she dedicated herself to just that — raising a son and daughter. After Rob and Kristina were well on their way at school Kathy returned to teaching at Vichy, then Alta Heights elementary schools. Kathy absolutely loved teaching and loved being an active part of the Vichy and Alta Heights communities for over 20 years, the latter where she attended as a student.
In 2002 Kathy retired from teaching but continued to be as busy as ever, volunteering with Community Projects and helping with three grandsons. She served on the Community Projects Board for several years and was proud to be part of this worthwhile organization and to work with such a dedicated group of women.
Throughout her life Kathy made it a priority to keep up with family and friends. She was always a positive, productive and perceptive force. Kathy was really a gifted people person who always encouraged and energized others. This was equally true with respect to her family, friends, students and complete strangers. Some of Kathy’s favorites were Napa childhood friends, Oregon State Kappa sorority sisters, teaching colleagues, former students and their parents, Community Projects coworkers, and the members of many knitting, quilting and mothers’ groups.
Kathy will be remembered as kind and considerate, as a hard worker and a loyal friend, as a great wife and mother, and as a person who, on occasion, could swear like a pirate. Kathy had a full, rich life and one that needed only a few more decades.
Kathy is survived by her father, retired Judge William Blanckenburg; Bill’s dear friend, Mona Humpert; her brother, Ted Blanckenburg and wife Caroline with daughters Emily and Rosie; her husband, Erwin Bollinger; her son, Rob Bollinger and wife Alison with their sons, Lucas and Will; and her daughter, Kristina Leamer and husband J.B. with their son, Mac. The whole family feels a tremendous loss as Kathy, more than anyone, stitched continuously to strengthen the extended family and ties with friends. The whole family also feels extremely lucky to have had Kathy as such a vibrant and important part of their lives.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 19, at 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third St., in Napa. A reception will follow at a site to be announced at the service.
The family suggests contributions in Kathy’s memory be sent to the Napa Valley College Foundation, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Napa, CA 94558 for the annual Kathy Bollinger Scholarship for aspiring elementary school teachers.
Arrangements are in the care of Richard Pierce Funeral Service, 1660 Silverado Trail, Napa.
Raymond Guadagni
I was deeply sorry to see that Kathy Blanckenberg (Bollinger) passed away some years ago. I knew Kathy since kindergarten and because we were always the shortest people in our class, we were constantly paired together in activities from just lining up in the hallways to folk dancing partners.
Perhaps the most dominant attributes of Kathy’s were her kindness and thoughtfulness. However, what struck me the most about Kathy was that for such a sweet, effervescent personality she had an unfaltering determination. It evidenced itself in her entire outlook upon life and its meanings. She went from us too soon, and not in the manner of her choosing, but she was active almost to the last, never estranged from the pulse of affairs or the rhythm of life – glad to live but not afraid to die; strong in mind and magnanimous in spirit.
Kathy taught in the very same third grade class at Alta Heights School that she and I both attended as students. Her reputation as a teacher was unimpeachable. She was patient, kind, and able to accommodate childish tantrums and disobedience, yet had complete control of her classroom.
Kathy’s memorial service was filled with former students who gave heartfelt testimonials about her excellence as a teacher. Kathy was the kind of person who devoted herself to the most precious of the precious. There is no more noble calling than what Kathy did so beautifully, for so long, and with so little recognition from those she served.
Kathy taught every day to make our youngsters into better, smarter, and happier people.
I will always be deeply inspired by her life. I still miss her.