Kathleen Mae Dodge, age 77 of Hernando, Florida, died peacefully September 26, 2020, surrounded in love with her husband and children at her side. She passed away at her daughter’s residence in Stillwater, Minnesota, following a courageous battle with stomach cancer. Kathleen was born on July 17, 1943, in Niagara Falls, New York; she was the daughter of Millard and Pauline (Parker) Wetzel. She was raised in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before graduating from Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey. During this time, she met her soul mate, Larry H. Dodge, Sr at her father’s church; First Baptist Church of Ledgewood, New Jersey.  She continued her education at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, where she became a Registered Nurse. She married her best friend and the love her life on August 29, 1964, in Ledgewood, with her father officiating the service. She worked as a Registered Nurse in New Jersey, Missouri, California and Minnesota.  Kathleen finished her career as Head Nurse at the Stillwater Prison, where she served for fifteen years.

Kathleen’s passion was the Lord and her family! It gave her great pleasure to host big family gatherings, she loved to prepare large feasts for everyone. She was an amazing cook, and no one ever left her house hungry.  Kathleen was a talented musician and she was gifted in being able to play by ear, harmonize and play any instrument that she came into contact with. She wrote many beautiful gospel songs that her family would enjoy singing and together. She was a gifted pianist who enjoyed teaching this art to others. She was also a talented artist and created many beautiful oil and water color paintings.

She raised her family in a house full of love, but more importantly unwavering faith in her Lord and personal Savior Jesus Christ. Her devotion to Christ was the foundation of her relationship with her husband, which she passed down to her children.

Kathleen will be gravely missed and will forever remain in the hearts of her husband Larry Sr; children Karileen Dodge, Larry Jr. (Maggie) Dodge, Lee (Rebekah) Dodge, Kareen (Steven) Buri, Kathleen (Jesse) Cudd, Kristaleen (Jonathan) Carter; grandchildren Brian (Lindsy), Brandon (Tiffany), Andrew, Matthew, Daniel, Mariah, Emily, Lizzy, Alex, L.J., Sammy, Vivian, Sophie, Nina, J.D., Jackson, Kaitlyn, Evan, Landon, Harrison; great grandchildren Taylor, Hudson, Cecelia, Brooks; her father Rev. Millard Wetzel; sisters Pauletta (Clyde) Canfield, Marsha (Henry) Kott, brother “Buddy” Millard Jr. (Leslie) Wetzel; and her nieces and nephews.  She joins her mother Pauline in Heaven.

A family service will be held at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson. Burial will be in the Rutherford Cemetery in Stillwater, Minnesota with her children having the honor of serving as active casketbearers. Memorials may be directed to the funeral home, as the family will use them to further her passions in life.