Kathryn Jo Hanzlick
Kathryn Jo Hanzlick (Roberts)
July 18, 1936 – December 31, 2021
Born in Colorado, Kathy was raised by her brother and his wife, James and Marlys Vanderpool, in Littleton. Kathy also had two sisters, Dorothy Steadman (Vanderpool) and Joyce Nicklaus (Hinton).
Following graduation from Littleton High School, Kathy married her high school sweetheart, Leonard Maurice Hanzlick on May 4, 1956. Len and Kathy then moved to Oxnard, CA where Len was stationed with the USMC. Lyle, the first of their four sons, was born while they were in California.
Following Len’s Honorable Discharge from the USMC, Len and Kathy moved their young family back to Colorado, where their other three boys - Kenny, Pat, and Russ - were born. Len and Kathy then heard the call of the West, moving their family to Willcox, Arizona to become farmers/ranchers – and bowling fanatics. In addition to raising their four children, Kathy worked for a range of employers, including the U of A Soil Conservation Service, the Cochise County Justice of the Peace and Willcox High School (probably to better keep an eye on her boys, who all attended WHS).
After their kids were grown, Len and Kathy moved to Slidell, Louisiana, where they were forced to endure the humiliation of rooting for their beloved Denver Broncos as the Saints showed them no mercy on multiple occasions. While in Louisiana, Kathy managed to pick up a Cajun accent, thereby thoroughly confusing her family as to what she was saying.
Not able to bear the burden of defending the hapless Broncos in the land of the Saints any longer, Len and Kathy moved back to Arizona – this time choosing to reside in Chandler. There they enjoyed their retirement with family members: James and Marlys, and Dorothy and Barrett. Fortunately, Kathy quickly lost her Cajun accent and reverted back to speaking English.
Kathy was preceded in death by Len, her husband of 63 years and her brother James. She is survived by her siblings, Dorothy and Joyce, and many other family members and friends. She is also survived by her sons and daughters-in-law: Lyle, Kenny (Shawn), Pat (Paty), and Russ (Sandy); grandchildren Lilly (Matt), Harrison (Erin), Emily, Camille, and Rebecca; and great-granddaughter Katarina.
In lieu of cards or flowers, the family requests donations be made in Kathy’s honor to one of the following organizations:
Arbor Rose Senior Care https://www.milestoneretirement.com/senior-living/az/mesa/arbor-rose-senior-care/
Hospice of the West https://hospicewestaz.com/make_a_donation.php
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