Kathryn "Katie" Matilda Gravlin, 96, of Urbana, formerly of Martinton, IL passed away at 12:29 a.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 905 S. Russel St., Champaign. Rev. Deborah Owen will officiate. Burial will be held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign.

Katie was born on July 13, 1920 in Martinton, IL to parents Charles and Sarah (Schroeder) Allsteadt. They preceded her in death. On October 25, 1941 she married Pershing Gravlin in Papineau, IL. He passed away on July 5, 1973. Also preceding her in death were one brother and her only daughter, Janice Brown.

She is survived by her son Pershing Lyle Gravlin (Janet) of Urbana, four grandchildren; Jamie Ray (Pete) of KY, Cindy Richardson (Galen) of KY, Jennifer Gravlin (Eric Little) of FL and Joanna Griffin (Dennis) of Tolono. Six great grandchildren: Josh and Megan Bell, Kaidy and MacKenzie Richardson, Allison and Stephanie Griffin, and two great great grandchildren also survive her.

Katie worked at Thomas Paine School as a cook and becoming cafeteria manager in 1966, working for the school for over twenty-five years. She also worked at the U of I as a cafeteria manager for a fraternity (9yrs) and a sorority (15yrs). She attended Parkland College and The U of I and was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ for 55 yrs. being very involved in church work, with deep faith for her church family.

She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts, and a lifetime charter member of the VFW Post 5520 Auxiliary, serving as President and Secretary. She also volunteered at the Veteran's Hospital in Danville.

Katie learned to cook at the age of 14 and was the head baker at children's camps in Colorado and Wisconsin. She was a past member of the Illinois School Food Association and was named the 1974 Cook of the Year in the Urbana Courier. She loved collecting cookbooks, reading, writing, winning a special award for a story that she wrote, which will be preserved at Western Illinois University Library Archives.

She was friendly and kind. She loved to encourage loved one through phone calls, visits and by sending cards. Katie is going to be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Contributions may be made to St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Endowment Fund. Condolences may be made at renner-wikoffchapel.com.