Kathryn "Kathy" Carol Butts Van Deven

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mother Kathryn ‘Kathy’ Van Deven, who left us on February 7, 2025 at the age of 77, after succumbing to her illness, Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare progressive neurological disorder. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 20, 1947, the second eldest of five children born to Alfred E. and Margery F. (Berglund) Butts. Kathy’s fondest memories of her childhood are when she grew up in Catawba Island, Ohio, living by the water. She graduated from Bloomfield Hills High School in 1965 and then attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan before marrying the love of her life, Joel Van Deven on December 10, 1966 in Dearborn, Michigan. Immediately following their wedding, Kathy and Joel moved to an apartment near the Homestead Air Force Base in Homestead, Florida, where they welcomed their first daughter, Julie F. Van Deven the following summer. In 1969, Joel was transferred to Travis Air Force Base in California, so he and Kathy moved to Vacaville, California. In the summer of 1971, Kathy and Joel welcomed their second daughter, Cindy C. (Van Deven) Zach. In 1974, Kathy and her family moved back to Michigan, eventually deciding to raise their daughters in Wixom, Michigan. Kathy enjoyed volunteering in her daughters’ activities, including being a Brownie Leader, and also lending a hand at their elementary school. She worked as a legal secretary for a local law firm before starting her 15-year career with Chrysler Corporation, working in its legal department winning several awards for her remarkable self-taught macro-word programming skills. Because of her valuable skill set, she was lent out to its multiple external legal counsels, saving the Company hundreds of thousands of dollars by streamlining its legal document creation process. Even after her retirement, she was called back to assist with Chrysler’s external legal counsel. Not only was Kathy valued as an employee, she was immensely liked by her fellow co-workers to whom she stayed friends with throughout her life. Shortly before retiring, Kathy and Joel welcomed their first granddaughter, Morgan O. Zach, to whom she adored with all her heart. Kathy truly loved being a grandmother, and was thrilled when her second granddaughter, Emily Kathryn Zach was born two years later. Kathy spent the next several years doting upon her grandchildren, attending their sporting events, creating fun-imaginative games for them, taking them to the park, and cooking them special meals. She wanted her time with them to be a fun-filled adventure. To escape the Michigan cold, some winters Kathy and Joel vacationed in Florida’s Panhandle, where they made some new and dear friendships, enjoying the days bike riding, fishing, walking the beach, and having beers at the local bars together. In 2014, Kathy and Joel made the jump and decided to retire to Leesburg, Florida where they enjoyed their days making new friends and joining clubs. Kathy enjoyed her morning walks and looked forward to playing bocce ball, water volley-ball, going to pilates, bike riding with Joel, and being a member of the Michigan Club.

Kathy will always be remembered for her ability to make us laugh, and her passion to enjoy life while her health allowed her to do so. She planned many adventures for herself and Joel, taking many spectacular trips that she thoroughly enjoyed. Kathy will also be remembered for her honest and helpful advice, and for how much she loved her family, creating personal and loving cards for her children, grandchildren, and siblings. Kathy was very close to her three sisters and younger brother, and they shared a deep close bond with one another, always being there to support one another.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Alfred E. Butts and Margery F. Butts. She is survived by her husband Joel Van Deven; daughters Julie F. Van Deven of Pinellas Park, Florida and Cindy C. Zach (Rick) of Canton, Michigan; granddaughters Morgan O. Zach of Troy, Michigan and Emily K. Zach of Rochester Hills, Michigan; sisters Marilyn McGrath (Joe) of Roswell, Georgia, Linda Rust (John) of Springhill, Tennessee, and Robin Akmon (Dave) of Troy, Michigan; her brother Steven Sorenson of Elkhart, Indiana; in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life will be held on June 26, 2025 from noon to 4pm at Royal Highlands Recreation Center, 5350 Monarch Blvd, Leesburg, FL. 34748.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Mayo Clinic for research of neurological diseases or to Cornerstone Hospice in Tavares, Florida.