Kathleen Kay Lopez

Kathleen Kay Lopez, 70, of Decatur, Indiana passed away Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Lutheran Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

She was born on September 21, 1951, in Decatur, Indiana to the late Robert Mendez and the late Kathryn (Hower) Mendez. Kathleen was united in marriage to Manuel John Lopez on March 21, 1987 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur and he preceded her in death on September 29, 2011.

Kathleen was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church along with the Eagles Lodge Aerie #2653.

Kathleen was employed at Walmart in Decatur as a sales associate.  She also had been formerly employed as a substitute teacher in Adams and Wells Counties, Adams Memorial Hospital in housekeeping, and head cook at Ike’s bar.

Kathleen loved to cook…a tradition of the Mendez family.  She also learned to become a skilled seamstress, learning from others in her family. She was a caretaker to her family…and a grandma to anyone younger than her!

Survivors include her son, Daniel Lopez of Decatur, Indiana; daughter, Nicole (Gregory Thornton) Lopez of New Albany, Indiana; son, Michael (Cassandra) Lopez of Decatur, Indiana; two granddaughters, Breanna Lopez and Alaina Lopez; seven great-grandchildren, Charles Thornton, Corine Thornton, Cooper Thornton, Sophia Lopez, Isabella Lopez, Michael Lopez, and Dominick Lopez; two sisters, Sandra Canales and Susan Mendez both of Decatur, Indiana; five brothers, Robert Eugene Mendez, Ike (Susan) Mendez, Johnny Mendez, James Mendez and Timothy (Jennifer) Mendez all of Decatur, Indiana; and a brother-in-law, Ronald Beitler of Decatur, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Laura Beitler and a brother-in-law, Richard Canales.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 11, 2021, at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Decatur.  In honor of Kathleen, everyone is invited and encouraged to wear a hat in her memory. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Decatur.

Friends and family will be received from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Monday at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur.

Preferred memorials can be given to the family (checks payable to Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home).

Arrangements by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, in Decatur, Indiana.