Kathleen Denise Karthauser Obituary (2026)

Kathleen Denise “Kathy” Karthauser passed away peacefully on August 14, 2026 after a brief yet courageous battle with leukemia. She was 78 years old. Kathy left an incredible legacy as a role model for kindness, commitment to family and community, and unselfish service to others. Kathy was born into a military family in Berlin, Germany to Lieutenant Colonel (then Major) John Herina, US Army Corps of Engineers, and his wife Marie on February 6, 1948 in the midst of the Berlin Airlift. The Herina family moved back to the US, finished their military career, and ultimately settled in Oroville, CA in 1961. Kathy attended Oroville High School (Class of 1966), where she was well known for her engaging personality, kindness, and school spirit. She was active in community service organizations and was selected head varsity cheerleader, both of which were foundational to her future activities. While attending Butte College, she met Collin Lee Karthauser who had recently returned from military service during the Vietnam Era. Having both come from large Catholic families, the two immediately clicked and were soon married, bonded for life by their shared values of devotion to family, respect for others, and generosity of spirit. Kathy and Collin would move to Pullman, WA, where she lovingly raised their children and worked at Washington State University while Collin worked dam construction as an iron worker and attended night school at WSU. It was their next move to Prosser, WA, however, where they would put down deep roots in a community and establish their true home. In the 1980’s and 90’s Kathy and Collin owned and operated two pizza restaurants, K.C.’s Pizza House in Prosser and Chatterbox Pizza in Sunnyside. Kathy fondly remembered often keeping the restaurant open past closing time for families to sit, talk, and eat after a late-night swim meet or ball game. After selling the businesses, Kathy focused her time and effort on another true passion of hers, childhood education, at Prosser Heights Elementary School where she worked until she retired with over thirty years of service. Second only to her family, her greatest joy was to help and encourage young learners. She loved the students and staff at Heights and firmly believed that every child deserved the opportunity and empowerment of education. She took pride in her role as a para-educator and had to ability to connect with all students. Even after retirement, she continued to stay active at Heights substituting as a para-educator. Kathy cherished the town of Prosser and put great effort into giving back to the community. She helped spearhead the initiative to construct the runaway truck ramp at the bottom of Paterson Grade in Prosser and helped to create the Annie Tran Foundation in the 1980’s; she was very involved over the years in Prosser United Good Neighbors, the Prosser Piranha Swim Club, and at Sacred Heart where she spent years as a CCD teacher. Kathy’s passion for supporting others was never more evident than in the way she cheered for her children and grandchildren in all of their activities. Though this combined group was involved in hundreds of sports teams over the years spanning grade school through the collegiate level, her true joy was Prosser Mustang athletics. She would proudly cheer for all of the Mustang athletes and teams, regardless of whether she had a child or grandchild competing. Always an advocate for those in need, she would frequently “adopt” several players each year to make sure they felt supported. Kathy's final battle with leukemia was short, but through it all, her positive outlook and sense of humor never wavered. She and her family are grateful for the exceptional care she received from the team at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, where doctors and nurses treated her like a member of the family, and from the Heart Links Hospice staff. Kathy is survived by her daughter, Kasey Blair (Rob); daughter, Kari Jo Pond (Wylie); son, CJ Karthauser (Abiah); son, Chad Karthauser; sister, Marie / Molly Boden; brother, LTC Kevin Herina (Cindra); brother, Chris Herina; brother-in-law, Joe Simpson (Cheryl); sister-in-law, Barbara Gillio (Nick); granddaughters, Kaylee, Alexandra, Brooke, Belle, and Katharine; grandsons, Ibis, Aiden, and Luke; and many treasured cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Collin Lee; mother and father, Marie and LTC John Herina; brothers, John Marc and Jeffrey Herina; sister, Patricia Herina Young; granddaughter, Abigail Blair; brothers-in-law Dennis, John, and Rick Karthauser; and sister-in-law Kelly Sidebottom (Robin). In lieu of flowers and to the extent you feel like giving back, Kathy would encourage a donation to Sofia’s Shining Star Pageant, 1001 5th St, Prosser, WA 99350 or Prosser Booster Club, PO Box 1552 Prosser, WA 99350. A service in Kathy’s honor will be held at noon on Saturday, August 29th at Sacred Heart Church in Prosser. Rosary will be on Friday, August 28th at 6:00 at Sacred Heart Church.