Kathleen "Kathie" Gail Humpert

Kathleen Gail Murphy Humpert was born April 8, 1950 in Escanaba, Michigan, the third daughter of Ruth and Lawrence Murphy. She passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Brian’s House in Essexville, Michigan. My Kathie, as she prefers to be called, was and is a very special person, a people-oriented person. She was always trying to be there for others, sometimes to the detriment of herself. She favored most helping and working with small children and the elderly. She taught Sunday School in our previous Episcopal Church, Calvary Memorial, for forty years. An elderly gentleman in her hometown of Fairgrove had a birthday on the fourth of July and Kathie would make a fourth of July cake and take it to him. I could give you other stories, but you get the picture. In her high school years, she favored science and chemistry. She did a project about the claim that Listerine mouth wash was a better product than the competitors. Her results were inconclusive, but her chemistry teachers honored her for the project. She received a state of Michigan grant to study chemistry in college, but was told that it would be on hold until they had the money. Five years after we were married, they had the money. But we had a young child; she never went. Shortly after I met Kathie in 1969, she had taken a job in Clarkston, Michigan, in a small lab as a phone and secretarial person. Soon the lab tech Jeana was teaching her basic lab criteria and trained her how to use them. She loved it. After we were engaged to be married, and she moved back to Saginaw a few months later, she took a job at Covenant Harrison (Old Saginaw General) in the lab as a phlebotomist. You all know who they are. They stick a needle in you and draw blood. She was exceptional at this and was called to the ER if she was working to start a line or draw blood. (She once worked on a baby.) One day on a floor to draw a patient, the man was having a heart attack. Kathie jumped on the bed and began CPR yelling for help. She saved his life. In the last year or so due to several medical issues she has, she has had numerous blood draws on herself and she can still palpate (feel for) a vein and tell the tech where to stick her. Kathie’s faith is the strongest I have ever known. With many life challenges and medical issues over the last several years, she has never been shaken in her belief in Jesus Christ or the Holy Trinity. She was raised Methodist and I, Roman Catholic. We have been members of the Episcopal faith since our marriage in 1970 (53 years). We are current members of St. John’s Episcopal Church on Michigan and Hancock. Where people go to church matters not to her. God is God. She has helped many others with faith challenges as well. No matter her personal circumstances, she never complains or asks God, “Why me?” Family has always meant everything to my Kathie. We have a beautiful and wonderful son Eric L. Humpert and a grandson Justin J. Humpert that Kathie will always love and has loved. Justin has always been very special to Kathie. The three of us will miss you so much and will love you forever. Sweetheart you have been our life, (my life), but we know you would want us to go on. That is who you are. That is who you have always been. Kathie, I will love you forever and more. Your Dave. If you wish to understand Kathie’s sense and idea of love, read 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a. Kathie was preceded in her passing by her father, Lawrence Struble Murphy, her mother, Glenna Ruth Butterfield, and her sister, Beryl Welch. In addition to Eric and Justin, she is survived by her their spouses, Rachel and Ruby. She leaves to cherish with many wonderful memories her sisters, Margaret Spohn and Margo “Mickey” Turner (George), and her brother, Wesley Murphy (Dina). Visitation will take place from 10:00a.m. until the time of service at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 123 N. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602. The Rev. Dr. Pamela Renna will officiate. Burial of Kathy’s cremated remains will take place at the family plot at Brookside Cemetery, in Fairgrove, MI, and at St. John’s Episcopal Church Columbarium, at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, care of the church, or to Brian’s House, 664 W. Nebobish Road, Essexville, MI 48732. For information, please contact Fischer Family Funeral Services at (989) 755-8277. To express your condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.

Kathleen "Kathie" Gail Humpert

April 8, 1950 - August 25, 2023