Kathryn Marie Schrader

Kathryn Marie Schrader, 1992-2022. It’s with the profound sorrow and sadness that we share with all of you that we have lost our precious Katie. As many of you know she had a magical personality and made everyone she came in contact with the most important person in the world. Katie lived more adventures and had a bigger impact in her short 30 years on earth than many of us do our entire lives. Born and raised in Georgia, she started playing softball and cheering at Shorty Howell Park where she made many lifelong friends. Katie began her walk with Jesus early in her life in her small group at Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, where she enjoyed close relationships with her friends and church family. Katie loved to cheer and was part of the Duluth Jayhawks family until she became part of the War Eagle squad at Woodward Academy. Katie graduated from Woodward Academy where she lettered in many sports, but loved being part of the Circle W family the most. Katie lived life to its fullest, but loved spending time with her sweet Butler, her family and Jesus the most, especially at the lake and the beach.

Katie is survived by so many that loved and cared for her deeply including her parents, Richard and Kathy Schrader; her brothers Russell and Joey, her grandparents Joe and Nancy McCart, Sally Erickson and Ken and Patty Schrader; her Great Aunt Jo Ann Morgan, her Uncle Jeff and Shema McCart, Aunt Debbie Schmidt, Uncle Tony and Carole McCart, Aunt Diana and Nick Barbella, Uncle Patrick Schrader, Uncle Jon Erickson and Stan Howington, her cousins, Jordan and Hollie McCart, her sweet Jack Perry McCart, Ashley McCart, Gabe Guerra, Emma Welch, Ryan Welch, Rachel McCart, Morgan, Matt and Sweet Amelia Mayes, Evan and MaKena Trout, Grant and Caitlin Brown, Kyle Lucas, Kady Lucas, Justin and Stephanie McDonald, Megan Judah, Lauren Judah, Kiley Griesemer, Scott Griesemer, Colton Erickson and Connor Erickson, Angela Garwood and Davis Garwood and so many more loving aunts, uncles and cousins and friends that she was blessed to call her own. Katie’s love and legacy will live on in all of our hearts.

Katie’s is a beautiful life cut too short by the ravages of the disease of substance abuse disorder and the unspoken epidemic of fentanyl in our communities. We have been open and transparent about her struggle with the disease of substance abuse disorder and want to celebrate that she had a wonderful last few years of her life enjoying her family, promises of a bright future and, especially the ability to pour herself into others that were struggling. She helped many find the path to sobriety. She was a bright shining light to many during their darkest times. She fought the demon of addiction bravely and valiantly, but on Friday evening the new killer in the arsenal of the enemy, fentanyl, landed its fatal blow. It was one slip on her sobriety journey, but that is all it takes. We know that she was greeted in the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and is now rejoicing on the streets of Heaven with her cousin, Justin, that we lost 2 years ago to this disease. We are thankful for the years that God shared her with us and know we will be reunited in Heaven one day after our earthly journey is complete. If you are uncertain about your eternal destination, please don’t delay reaching out to us or someone else for us to share our hope in eternal life in Heaven.

To honor Katie’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Lightway Recovery Wellness Center for Women at https://lightwayrecovery.org or the recovery organization of your choice. We are establishing a scholarship in her name to make quality care and treatment available for other women.

Please get involved in the battle against the tidal wave of fentanyl in your community. No one is immune, no one. This is a battle that we all must be willing to fight if we are going to prevent more tragedies. You can volunteer, support your local treatment centers, sponsor someone who needs recovery but cannot afford it, contact your local legislators and financially support the local recovery efforts in your community.

We will celebrate Katie on Thursday, October 6 with a Gathering of Friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Ceremony at 3:00 p.m. at Katie’s church, Cross Pointe Church in Duluth. All friends and family are welcome to come and share their memories and stories of how Katie loved them so.