URBANA - Kathryn Avery Cobb Burtness, 90, passed away peacefully at home on April 21, 2016. Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Roger William Burtness, her parents Thomas Howell and Nina Reed Cobb, and her brothers Clinton and John Cobb. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Roger William Jr. (Susan Siebring) of Urbana; Kathryn Grace (Richard Blomker) of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin; and Thomas Harold (Emily Bebout) of White Heath; grandchildren Rachael (Matt Piercey), Rebekah (Ryan Frost), John (Marie Bonjour) and Mark (Britta Stebel); Will (special friend Eva Lopez), Peder (Rachel Polster) and Jonathan (Tessa Tsarong Matthews) ; and Erick (fiancAC.e Kayce Swigelson), Kristiana (Mike Roe), Michelle (Zach Morrison) and Hannah; and great-grandchildren Jaidan, Samuel, Esben, Sophie, Lexi, Jack, Noah, James, Liam, Laila, William, Peter, and Elizabeth. Kathryn is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Betty Cobb, Jacquie Severns, and Dolores Burtness, and many nieces and nephews.

Kathryn was born December 30, 1925, in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, her family moving to Urbana when she was seven. Her father Tom, after whom the Cobb Memorial Auditorium at Urbana High School was later named, was a history teacher at Urbana High School and then became the Superintendent of Schools in Urbana during its largest phase of expansion. Kathryn graduated from Urbana High School and the University of Illinois at Urbana, and after marrying Roger in 1947 moved to New York, back to Urbana while Roger was in graduate school, to La Grange Park, and back to Urbana. She re-entered the University of Illinois in 1967 and was awarded a Master's Degree in Counseling and Guidance. She found great joy for many years in her subsequent work as Academic Advisor in Elementary Education at the University of Illinois. Kathryn was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Urbana for over 55 years, and a member of the P.E.O. sisterhood, Chapter AR, for over 70 years.

Kathryn was the rock of the family and yes, she really was a saint. She grounded the rest of us with her ever bubbling wry sense of humor, calm demeanor, wisdom, kindness, patience, compassion, knowledge, and generosity. When Roger's "Hey, gang!" rang out, beginning projects from building a boat to building a house, from heading to the ocean to heading to the desert and mountains, it was Kathryn who was first assistant, sawing boards, stapling Fiberglas, cooking mountains of food, packing the popup and the kids. She was a lady, in the best sense of the word. Words will only fail to express how much we will miss this funny and gentle mother and grandmother, or describe what a deep hollow her passing leaves in our lives. The family wishes to express our great thanks to her pastor Bob Rasmus for his warm and wonderful spiritual care over the last 16 years. We also want to express our deep and abiding appreciation to her loving and faithful caregivers Cindy Collins, Stephanie Eddy, Piper Harvey, Essie Nagasaga, Bonnie LeShoure, and Monique Hines. The love and skilled care of these remarkable individuals have been a great gift to the entire family, but especially to Kathryn who was thus able to remain in her own bright, comfortable and familiar home until the end. We also wish to thank her doctors, especially Janet Welch and Ken Aronson, and Carle Hospice for its compassionate and knowledgeable end of life support.

Arrangements are being handled by Renner-Wikoff Chapel in Urbana. Funeral Services will be held at 12:30 p.m., Friday April 29, 2016, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 2200 Philo Rd. Urbana. A Visitation will be held an hour before the funeral at 11:30 a.m., at the church. Rev. Bob Rasmus will be officiating. Burial will take place at Roselawn Cemetery in Champaign at 2:30 p.m. Until then, your prayers and warm thoughts are welcome.