Katherine C. Smith

Madison - Katherine C. Smith (Ehrhart), age 89, died on June 16, 2009 at Oregon Manor nursing home. She was born on January 10, 1920 in Derby, Kansas, the daughter of George and Alice Ehrhart (Maquire). She attended St. Mary's College in Leavenworth, Kansas where she participated in plays and played basketball. Katherine graduated with a degree in Education. She went on to teach high school science and physical education in Kansas City for two years. She then decided to join the U.S. Army as a physical therapist and moved about the country to various hospitals providing physical therapy to the soldiers who were injured during World War II. She met her future husband, Dr. Max M. Smith, at the Officer's Club on an Army base in Kansas where both had entered a dancing contest. They danced so well together that they decided they would not break up the act. Senator Joe McCarthy was able to keep Katherine from having to transfer to Korea, and Katherine and Max were married on February 20, 1948. She served as president of the Catholic Women's Club of Madison and was an active member of the St. Maria Goretti Parish Council, St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary, and the Roman Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue committee. She believed in women taking part in civic activities and served on the Governor Warren Knowles' Advisory Council on Pornography and Children. She also addressed a U.S. Senate Committee in Washington, D.C. on the issue of the importance of the American family. She loved Badger Basketball and was a member of UW Basketball booster club. Her greatest joy was her family, and she loved spending time with her grandchildren. She loved hosting parties and traveling with family and friends all over the U.S. and Europe. Katherine is survived by four children: Gregory (Kathryn) Smith of McFarland, WI, Stephen (Trudy) Smith of Madison, WI, Kathleen (Daniel) Voeltner of Watertown, WI and Patrice Smith of Phoenix, AZ; ten grandchildren, Ryan (Erika), Kristin, and Eric Smith; Heather (Jeff) Straw, Matthew (Jamie), Mackenzie, and Brandon Smith; Seth, Andrew (Rebecca), and Lindy Voeltner; great grandchildren, Shaylee, Payton and Ashley Smith; her brother, Leo Ehrhart of Colorado; sisters- and brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, George and Vincent; and sisters, Alice and Agnes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at ST. MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave, Madison, with Msgr. Michael L. Burke presiding. A visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Edgewood High School, St. Maria Goretti Parish or HospiceCare Inc. The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Oregon Manor and from HospiceCare Inc. for their loving care of Katherine.