- Date Of Birth: October 15, 1949
- Date Of Death: March 19, 2020
- State: Minnesota
Kathryn (Kathy) passed away on March 19, 2020 at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury, MN due to complications of a chronic illness. She was born on October 15, 1949 in Virginia, MN to Willard and Elsie (Matts) Esala. She graduated from Embarrass HS in 1967; and both Mesabi Community College & Hibbing Vocational Technical College with a degree in Applied Science in Medical Technology. Kathy worked for LP Clinic, East Range Clinic, Surgical Associates and the Cook Hospital. She retired after working 30 years as a Lab Tech. Kathy was united in marriage to Richard Paul Pitkanen October 19, 1968 and they were married for 44 years, enjoying homes in Cambridge, Pike-Sandy and Armstrong Lake in Ely.
Kathy is survived by her children: Leah (Darryl) Pernat of Snohomish WA; Kurt Pitkanen of Ely, MN; and Keith (Rachel) Pitkanen of Cottage Grove, MN; and was also blessed with her grandchildren: Logan Pernat; Pasia, Kylie, and Claire Pitkanen. Siblings: Barbara Heino of Treasure Island, FL; Peter Esala of Lake Vermilion, MN; Gary Esala of Virginia, MN; Dianne French of Lake Vermilion, MN; Tom Esala of Australia, and Cindy (Dan) Maki of Pike-Sandy, MN; sisters in-law: Sandy (David) Theelke of Hastings, MN; Linda (Doug) Nelson of Breezy Point, MN; and Mary Pitkanen of Aurora, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard; her parents Willard and Elsie Esala; her in-laws George and Ruth Pitkanen; brother James Esala; sisters in-law: Tandy Esala, Nancy Weisinger, and Arlene Kennedy; brothers in-law: David Heino, Jim French, and Peter Pitkanen; nephews: Ryan Esala and Sean Theelke; and infant granddaughter Elsie Pernat.
