Obituary for Kathleen Disbennett
Kathleen “Kathie/Kate” Helen Disbennett (née Buchanan), suffered a stroke in the home of her daughter and died in Muskegon, Michigan, on December 28, 2022. Kathie was 80 years old. This fall she celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends.
Kathie is survived by her three children, Scott Beil, Lisa Wisman (John Winfrey), and Michael (David) Chmura; three granddaughters, Kali (Brian) Bishop, Ana Beil, and Elizabeth (Aaron) Wisman; and three great-grandsons, Hunter, Harvest, and Henry Bishop, beloved niece and nephew Mary (Tom) Pecorilla and Dan (Laura) DelBarba, as well as a brother and other family and friends.
Kathie was preceded in death by her parents, Malcolm and Mary Buchanan, her brother, John Buchanan, sister Marian "Flo" Wyber, and brother-in-law, William “Willy” Wyber.
Kathie was born on September 30, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Denby High School. As an adult, she attended Macomb Community College, where she received her associate's degree.
Kathie was a devoted grandmother and great grandmother, who throughout the years made many visits from the Detroit area back to West Michigan to spend time with her granddaughters, Kali and Lizzie and later with her three great-grandsons. Kathie also spent a significant amount of time with her granddaughter Ana on Ana’s frequent visits to Michigan. For many years, there was Nana camping with her three granddaughters and three children as well as whatever extended family and friends came to visit (everyone was welcome).
While living in the metro-Detroit area, Kathie enjoyed spending time with her Red Hatters. She was an engaged and passionate lifelong learner and looked for opportunities to explore and learn. Through reading and book clubs, visiting museums, attending architectural and historical tours, and traveling the world, she continued to expand her horizons throughout her life.
Kathie loved to travel! She enjoyed many expeditions later in life with her family and friends. Some examples include; visiting her son Scott in Norfolk on his submarine, taking her daughter Mike to Scotland and England, her daughter Lisa to Rome, granddaughter Kali to Egypt, and granddaughter Lizzie to Spain. In addition, she traveled to France, Austria, Hungary and The Czech Republic. She traveled with her friend Barb and took cherished trips with her beloved niece Mary to Washington D.C, New Orleans, and Charleston. It was important for her to show her family the world, and she did.
Kathie worked tirelessly to provide for her children. She was an animal lover and environmentalist, concerned about all creatures and their homes. She made those around her laugh. She made those around her think. She was an unapologetic feminist and a pragmatic liberal who was not afraid to share her opinions, and she is dearly missed.
A memorial service for Kathie was held at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
7272 GREENVILLE AVE
Dallas TX 75231-5129
800-242-8721
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
http://www.bcrf.org
28 WEST 44TH STREET SUITE 609
New York NY 10036-7422
866-346-3228
Harbor Humane Society
www.harborhumane.org
14345 BAGLEY ST
West Olive MI 49460-9229
Kathie is survived by her three children, Scott Beil, Lisa Wisman (John Winfrey), and Michael (David) Chmura; three granddaughters, Kali (Brian) Bishop, Ana Beil, and Elizabeth (Aaron) Wisman; and three great-grandsons, Hunter, Harvest, and Henry Bishop, beloved niece and nephew Mary (Tom) Pecorilla and Dan (Laura) DelBarba, as well as a brother and other family and friends.
Kathie was preceded in death by her parents, Malcolm and Mary Buchanan, her brother, John Buchanan, sister Marian "Flo" Wyber, and brother-in-law, William “Willy” Wyber.
Kathie was born on September 30, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Denby High School. As an adult, she attended Macomb Community College, where she received her associate's degree.
Kathie was a devoted grandmother and great grandmother, who throughout the years made many visits from the Detroit area back to West Michigan to spend time with her granddaughters, Kali and Lizzie and later with her three great-grandsons. Kathie also spent a significant amount of time with her granddaughter Ana on Ana’s frequent visits to Michigan. For many years, there was Nana camping with her three granddaughters and three children as well as whatever extended family and friends came to visit (everyone was welcome).
While living in the metro-Detroit area, Kathie enjoyed spending time with her Red Hatters. She was an engaged and passionate lifelong learner and looked for opportunities to explore and learn. Through reading and book clubs, visiting museums, attending architectural and historical tours, and traveling the world, she continued to expand her horizons throughout her life.
Kathie loved to travel! She enjoyed many expeditions later in life with her family and friends. Some examples include; visiting her son Scott in Norfolk on his submarine, taking her daughter Mike to Scotland and England, her daughter Lisa to Rome, granddaughter Kali to Egypt, and granddaughter Lizzie to Spain. In addition, she traveled to France, Austria, Hungary and The Czech Republic. She traveled with her friend Barb and took cherished trips with her beloved niece Mary to Washington D.C, New Orleans, and Charleston. It was important for her to show her family the world, and she did.
Kathie worked tirelessly to provide for her children. She was an animal lover and environmentalist, concerned about all creatures and their homes. She made those around her laugh. She made those around her think. She was an unapologetic feminist and a pragmatic liberal who was not afraid to share her opinions, and she is dearly missed.
A memorial service for Kathie was held at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
7272 GREENVILLE AVE
Dallas TX 75231-5129
800-242-8721
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
http://www.bcrf.org
28 WEST 44TH STREET SUITE 609
New York NY 10036-7422
866-346-3228
Harbor Humane Society
www.harborhumane.org
14345 BAGLEY ST
West Olive MI 49460-9229