Katherine Jobin

Katherine Marie Jobin (née Ratkovich) died peacefully surrounded by her family on June 13, 2022. She was born in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Nick and Eva Ratkovich, on June 10, 1945. She was raised in Clover Valley, Minnesota, a small community along the North Shore of Lake Superior East of Duluth. She graduated from Clover Valley High School in 1963, then attended and graduated from the Duluth School of Practical Nursing in 1964. She worked as a nurse at St. Mary’s hospital in Duluth.

She entered Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), and completed her training and fieldwork in January 1966. As a VISTA Volunteer, she was assigned to The Interfaith Migrant Committee in Santa Clara County, California. She provided health education and advocacy services to underserved and disadvantaged families, as well as Mexican seasonal workers and their families.

Kathy married Lieutenant John Lyons, US Army, of Duluth, Minnesota in October of 1966. He died in a helicopter training accident a month later. She returned to serve in VISTA and worked as a nurse in Morgan Hill, CA.

In June of 1970, Kathy married Terrance Jobin of Duluth, Minnesota. Kathy and Terry began their married life in Micronesia where Terry had been a Peace Corps Volunteer.  They lived in Chuuk State and taught school for two years. Following this, they returned to the United States, settling down in the Midwest and raising their family in Illinois.

As a young mother, Kathy provided home daycare services for many years and eventually became a Certified Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist, serving youth and their families for 15 years. She trained professionals in community prevention throughout the Midwest and worked with homeless families, advocating for educational rights for homeless children and seeking community services for their families.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Eva Ratkovich, and her brother, Lloyd Ratkovich. She is survived by Terry, her husband of 52 years, daughter, Amy, sons, Jeremy (Jamie), Timothy, and Kwame Curtis (Christy), nieces, Jana Ratkovich and Mary Adolphson, nephews, Steve Ratkovich and Peter Ratkovich, and grandchildren, Nathan, Ziva, Noah, Malley, Max, Sadie, Drake, and Deacon.

The liturgy for the Celebration of Kathy’s Life will take place at St. Viator Catholic Community, 2461 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89121 on Thursday, July 28 at 11:00 AM; a visitation will take place the night before, July 27 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Davis Funeral Home, 6200 Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Additional liturgies for the Celebration of Kathy's Life will take place on Friday, August 5 at 11:00 AM in Duluth, MN at St. James Catholic Church, 715 N 57th Ave W, Duluth, 55807, and on Friday, August 19 at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 708 W. Main St., Urbana, IL 61801; receptions in the parish halls will follow each service.

Memorials honoring Kathy may be sent to a charitable organization of your choosing, or to the Jim McEntee Legacy Committee and Scholarship Fund, Friends of Human Relations Committee, 14850 East Hills Drive, San Jose, CA 95127.