Kathleen Ann McKinnon passed away Monday, July 13, 2026, after a short illness. She was born on September 13, 1936, to the late John B McKevitt and Gertrude L McKevitt in Ironwood, MI. She attended High School at St. Scholastica in Duluth Mn. Her hobbies included ice skating and downhill skiing. After high school she briefly attended Marquette University where her father was Professor of civil engineering and where she would meet her future husband, Donald McKinnon, a dental student at the school of dentistry. She finished her degree in speech pathology at the University of Minnesota- Duluth and married the love of her life. Don and Kay were married on June 29th, 1957. They started their life together in San Clemente, Ca where Dr. Donald now served with the 1st Marine 1st division Fleet Marine Force at Camp Pendelton. Their first son, Micheal was born in New Port Beach, CA. After his tour ended with the Marines They moved to Appleton WI where they started a Dental practice together and had three more sons. James, Daniel and John. Kathleen was a very devoted mother to her children. She was truly a great mother. As her boys grew up, she found time to continue her own education earning her MSW and graduating Magnum Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh. She started her career at Brown County Child Protective Services but found her true passion as a guidance counselor at St. Mary Central High- School in Menasha. She had a passion for helping her students. She truly cared for them and their future.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 69 years, her son’s and their families, Micheal his wife Dawn and daughter Holly; Daniel and his wife Sandee and children Tlyer, Kaitlyn and Quinn; her nephews Patrick and Christopher McKevitt.

She was proceeded in death by adored son James, her parents John B and Gertrude L McKevitt and her brother John McKevitt.

Funeral Mass for Kathleen will be held at 11AM, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 312 S. State Street, Appleton. The family will greet guests on Saturday at the church from 9AM until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Appleton.

Kathleen was a devoted Christian which was truly her guiding light. Her faith was applied to every aspect of her life; she was compassionate and empathetical to all she knew. She was a great mother and friend, beautiful inside and out. As we see it Heaven now has another guardian angel watching over the ones she loved.