Kathy Jane Fenstermacher-Amendolara, 64, of Wichita, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on December 9, 1951, in Claremore, Oklahoma, to Wanda and John Henry Fenstermacher Jr. Kathy was raised in Vinita, where she attended Vinita Public Schools. After school, she married Michael L Hamilton, in December of 1971, and the couple had two children, Michael T Hamilton and Tami Hamilton. Kathy being a free spirit, was never one, who liked to stay in one place for long periods, and she spent a great deal of time, after her divorce, in the 1970s and 1980s, traveling around the country. She lived in northern California, southern Florida, and parts of the South. In 1991, Kathy, attended Northeast Technology Center, in Afton, where she studied Office Administration Technology. In 1993, Kathy, married Thomas Amendolara, and that same year, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she began working in the accounting department, at Big Dog Motorcycles. She had a passion for motorcycles, and during this time, she and her husband, both owned Harley Davidson Motorcycles. They rode in the annual Wichita Toy Run, at Christmastime, with proceeds going to underprivileged children. After working at Big Dog Motorcycles, Kathy, worked in the office, at Koch Industries, and for the past 12 years, she has worked as a planner at Johnson Controls, in Wichita, Kansas, where she was also a union steward. Kathy, was a lover of all types of music. She played the drums, and was even in a local band, in the early 1990s, called Cripple Creek, which played gigs, around the Grand Lake area. She also loved the mountains and the outdoors, and she lived in Boulder, Colorado for a couple of years, where she enjoyed camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. She was a fantastic cook, who enjoyed cooking special dishes, like stuffing and pies, at family dinners. She was also a devoted dog mama to Chili, her dog of 13 years. Preceding her in death, were her parents; a sister, Pamela Stephens; a nephew, Robert Fenstermacher; father of her children, Michael Lynn Hamilton; a great-grandchild, Lynnox Diamond, and special pet, Chili Dog. The family includes: her children, Michael T Hamilton and wife Carmen of Wichita, Kansas, and Tami Hamilton-Shipman and husband Alan of Monkey Island; siblings, John Fenstermacher III and wife Shari of Vinita, Tracia Kirkendoll and husband Steven of Wichita, and Rick Fenstermacher and wife Janie of Vinita; grandchildren, Ozzy Impson, Jujuan Hamilton, Feather Dushane, Tecumseh Dushane, Valeria Hamilton, River Shipman, and Wanda Hamilton; and great-grandchild, Phoenix Diamond, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family is having a private memorial service. Arrangements are by Baker Funeral Home in Wichita, Kansas.
Service Details
Private Family Services