Kathryn "Kathy" Wabnum, 69 of Topeka, KS, passed away Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Midland Hospice House after an 8-year battle with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was born March 13, 1949 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Richard D. and Lillie May (Acorn) Wolf. She was baptized at Mulberry Tree Baptist Church.

Her stomping grounds primarily spanned from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Kathy graduated from Stillwell High School. A tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, she attended Haskell Junior College in Lawrence, KS, where she met Kansas Indians who would eventually become her relatives. She married Ralph Wabnum on November 29, 1976 in Miami, OK. He preceded her into the Spirit World on April 26, 2015. They spent their mornings together drinking coffee and discussing local and world issues while enjoying the fruits of their combined green thumbs. They shared a love for bowling, barbecues, movie nights, their tribes, and their families. They have reunited in the Spirit World where they will continue to guide their loved ones as well as "razz" them when necessary.

She worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SBC) for more than 30 years before retiring. During her service at SBC, she was a Chief Steward for her labor union, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local #6401. In her capacity as Chief Steward, she advocated for the rights of her fellow workers, spent countless hours on legislative walks, walked many-a-picket lines during contract negotiations and was an all-around professional thorn in the sides of management.

She was both lover and fighter. When SBC attempted to force her into an early retirement and take a penalty on her pension or relocate to Texas, she chose the latter. In Dallas, she was active with CWA Local #6215, where her name preceded her. She was a former board member of the Topeka LULAC Senior Center, the YWCA and previously served as Chair and Committee Member of the USD 501 Native American Parent Committee. She regularly volunteered for Midland Hospice and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She received the Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteer Award from the City of Topeka.

Kathy was also preceded in death by 4 sisters, Cynthia Wolf, Jenora Romancito, Delora Wolf and Maudine Wolf.

Survivors include: her 4 children, Crystal Wabnum of Minneapolis, MN, Justin Wabnum of Topeka, KS, Beth Wabnum (and spouse Randy Vaughan) of Horton, KS, and Ronald Wabnum of Kansas City, MO; 2 sisters, Florene Calabaza (and husband Ralph Calabaza) of Albuquerque, NM, and Mildred Cochran (and husband Jim Cochran) of Tahlequah, OK; 5 brothers, Vernon Wolf (and wife Angie Wolf) of Tulsa, OK, Larry Wolf (and wife Ruby Wolf) of Zuni, NM, Monroe Wolf of Tulsa, OK, Leroy "Ned" Wolf (preceded by wife Nanita Wolf) of Weatherford, TX and Richard "Chubby" Acorn (and wife Judy Acorn) of Stillwater, OK; 7 beloved grandchildren; 2 beloved great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 31, 2018 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, KS. Burial will follow in the Shipshee Cemetery in Mayetta, KS.