WATSONVILLE — Catherine Jane (Rasmussen) Stewart McKinney, a long-time resident of Watsonville, died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017. She was 99.
Born in 1918 in Wausau, Wis., she lived with her mother until attending Nursing School where she graduated as a Registered Nurse. Throughout her nursing career, she always found ways to give back to her community. She served for many years as the school nurse at Watsonville High School, where she enjoyed helping many generations of students. Additionally, she was a passionate bell ringer and volunteer with the Salvation Army, as well as an active member of the Watsonville Elks Lodge. Her husband Joe McKinney was an Exalted Ruler in the lodge for several years, and the two enjoyed parties at various lodges and often would gather large groups of friends and family at dinners hosted by the Elks.
She was very well known throughout the Portola Heights community and helped her neighbors by providing blood pressure screenings and authoring a health information newsletter for several years.
She is survived by her children, Michael John Ahlmann and Pamela Sue Ahlmann. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Katy.
At her request, no memorial services will be held.
