Kathryn Smelser

KATHRYN ANN (GOLDCAMP) SMELSER

Cedar Rapids

Kathryn "Kathy" Smelser was born May 2, 1949, in Elyria, Ohio, the second of seven children born to Boyce and Marjorie Goldcamp. She passed away peacefully in Bend, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2015.

Upon retirement in 2014, Kathy moved to Bend from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to fulfill her dream of being near her son, Christian, her daughter-in-law, Jackie, and her beloved "babies," grandsons Samuel and Wesley.

Kathy attended St. Mary's Elementary School and graduated from Elyria Catholic High School in 1967. She attended Lorain (Ohio) County Community College, earning her licensed practical nursing degree in 1981. While raising her son and working fulltime at the Cleveland Clinic, Kathy completed studies for her registered nursing degree in 1984. In 1998, she earned her Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix.

In 1985, Kathy moved to Visalia, Calif., and began her nursing career at Visalia Community Hospital and Tulare District Hospital, moving through the ranks to director of nursing at TDH. While at Tulare District Hospital, she led a special team of nurses trained to respond to victims of sexual assault. It was the first such program in the area.

In 2001, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and continued her nursing career at Mercy Medical Center, where she served as a team leader in the department of clinical improvement and accreditation. In 2009, she was honored as one of Iowa's "100 Great Nurses" at a ceremony held at the state capital. This honor is given to a nurse selected by her peers who embodies courage, competence and commitment. Kathy retired as the hospital patient safety manager in 2014.

As great as these accomplishments were, Kathy was celebrated even more for her generosity, kindness and adventurous spirit. Always known by her siblings, nieces and nephews for her generosity, few knew that she quietly and most often anonymously gave her time and support to youth and homeless shelters in the Cedar Rapids area, and as a volunteer driver for senior citizens. Many winters she would buy gloves in bulk and keep them in her car, driving around and handing them out to those she saw in need.

Of her many passions – art, philanthropy, animals, politics, travel and adventure, and of course, her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes – above all was her devotion to and love for Chris, Jackie and her "babies," grandsons Sammy and Wes. She was never happier than when she was with them "doing projects," such as sewing and artwork.

Kathy is survived by her son, Chris; daughter-in-law, Jackie; and grandsons, Sammy and Wes, of Bend, Ore.; mother, Marjorie Goldcamp of Visalia, Calif.; sisters, Diane (Ralph) Salazar of Fresno, Calif., Marjorie McCubbin of Visalia, Calif., and Mary Jane (Joe) Rinaldi, Rosemary Denes and Janet Burdette, all of Cedar Rapids; brother, James (Kim) Goldcamp of Gallipolis, Ohio; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, Boyce Goldcamp; brothers-in-law, Stephen Burdette and Terry Orton; and niece, Jennifer Denes.

Donations may be made in Kathryn Smelser's memory to the KIDS Center of Bend.

A celebration of her life will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Skyliners Lodge, 16125 Skyliners Rd., Bend, Ore. Arrangements are through the Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home in Bend.