Ann Catherine “Kathy” Coughlin

Kathy was born on April 4, 1942, to Austole and Rose Marie (Chiesa) Geronimi. She graduated from Kingsford High School in 1960. Kathy married Robert Coughlin on Feb. 4, 1961, and they were happily married for 51 years until Robert passed away in November 2012.

Bob and Kathy loved spending time camping together and sitting on their front porch on “G” Street, waving and talking to passersby.

After she graduated, Kathy worked as a telephone operator at Michigan Bell and cleaned houses and offices for people. Because of her love of cooking for people, Kathy followed her dreams and became a professional cook.

She started at Tom & Joe’s in Aurora, Wis., and then went to the original T&T on the North Side of Iron Mountain. Because she was undisputedly the best cook around, she was sought after by all the new restaurants in the area; they knew if they wanted to be successful, they had to have Kathy running their kitchen. Kathy then spent a couple years at Irishes and was then responsible for the early success of Romagonli’s where she worked for many years.

Kathy closed out her career with stints at Milliman’s in the Dickinson Inn and the Elks Lodge. Kathy loved reading and never met a crossword puzzle she couldn’t solve.

Kathy is survived by her four boys, Robert (Kathy) of Iron Mountain, David (April) of Racine, Wis., John of Iron Mountain and Jim (Chris) of Charles Town, W.Va; the daughter she never had in life, a very special niece, Sara (Jason) Tregillis and their two special boys, Christian and Evan of Iron Mountain, whom she loved with all her heart; two brothers, Dean (Mary Margaret) Geronimi of Kingsford and Michael Geronimi of Iron Mountain; one sister, Mary Richards of Kingsford; eight grandchildren, Alex, Rachel, Nicholas, Joshua, Ryan, Nicole, Josh and Elizabeth; two great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Camden; brother-in-law Gordy (Paula) Sorensen of Kingsford; two sisters-in-law, Julaine Sorensen of Kingsford and Rosemary Geronimi of Iron Mountain; and many nieces and nephews.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Austole and Rose Marie Geronimi; her husband, Robert; and six brothers and sisters, Jackie, Tony, Carlo, Donald, Mera and Dolly.

The family would like to thank everyone in the radiation department and all the nurses and aides at Dickinson County Hospital, as well as all the nurses and aides at Freeman Nursing Home, for the loving care they provided Kathy and for making her last few weeks as comfortable as possible.

In lieu of funeral services, the family will hold a “Celebration of Life” for Kathy this summer.

Details will be provided at a later date via The Daily News and Facebook.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Ann “Kathy” Coughlin online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.