Catherine M. "Katie" Brausch

Catherine M. "Katie" Brausch, 88 years old, of Clarksville, Ohio, passed away September 4, 2026. She was born October 28, 1937 in San Gabriel, CA, daughter of the late Bernhard & Johanna (Ubbing) Gawolek. Katie moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with her family at the age of four.

Katie was always taking care of others and loved spending time with her family, friends, and students.

Katie excelled in her Catholic grade school, embracing her Catholic faith at a young age. Some of her favorite childhood memories involved swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter, both activities always including her brother and neighborhood friends. She graduated from Seton High School in 1955 where she found her niche playing piano and singing in the Glee Club. She went on to graduate from Mt. St. Joseph College with a degree in Elementary Education, teaching 52 fourth graders her first year (at the age of 19) as a teacher at St. Antoninus.

On August 20, 1959, Katie met the love of her life, James Martin Brausch, who survives. After a year of courting, and a year of engagement, Katie and Jim were married on June 10, 1961.

After marriage, Katie no longer taught full time, but she was always involved in a school of religion. She went from St. Williams in Cincinnati to St. Phillips in Morrow to St.

Columbkille in Wilmington. While at St. Columbkille, she became the Director of Religious Education, serving in that role for many years.

Also after marriage, Katie quickly embraced being a homemaker and Mom of seven. A move to Clarksville, Ohio in 1972 meant also embracing bigger gardens, a farmer’s stand, and canning for hours. She was born with a green thumb and raised beautiful flowers and vegetable gardens throughout the farm. Her tomato crop was bountiful enough that she could sell extra to the Burger Chef in Wilmington. She was often found picking wild flowers along fence rows or in the fields. Katie spent countless hours creating a family album, entitled “Our Circle of Love”, in which she said, “The city gal had truly become a country gal, and I loved it.” She loved the years that were filled with 4-H, Scouting, gardening, canning, raising livestock, and baling hay and straw. Katie could cook up delicious meals large enough to feed many hungry workers during hay and straw baling seasons.

Katie loved much and was loved by many. She cherished her time with the “Fun Bunch” where she could be a friend and a mentor. She lovingly embraced each role of life that came her way - daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, mentor, grandmother, great grandmother… God filled her with love and grace and she allowed this love and grace to spill over throughout her earthly journey.

After Jim’s retirement, Katie and Jim enjoyed traveling, especially traveling the country in their camper or with bus tours.

To beautifully reiterate: Katie was always taking care of others and loved spending time with her family, friends, and students.

The family would like to thank all those who cared for Katie during her battle with

Alzheimer’s disease. She was the recipient of much love and grace from others during

her long struggle. Katie’s family is very grateful and blessed by the outpouring of love.

In addition to her husband, other surviving family members are her children- Jim (Jill) Brausch Jr. of Scottsdale, AZ, Mike (Dana) Brausch of Clarksville, OH, Susan (Jeff) Parker of Martinsville, OH, Bob (Dianna) Brausch of Clarksville, OH, Dave (Stephanie) Brausch of Clarksville, OH, & Lisa (Nathan) Myers of Ft. Thomas, KY; 17 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Katie was preceded in death by her daughter- Joanie Brausch; and brother- Herbert Gawolek.

Friends will be received from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on Tuesday, September 8 at the Fisher-Edgington Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday September 9 in the St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 73 North Mulberry Street, Wilmington with Rev. Anthony R. Brausch officiating.

Interment will follow in the Clarksville Cemetery, Clarksville, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Katie's memory to Queen City Hospice by visiting https://queencityhospice.com/donate/ or the Alzheimer's Association - Miami Valley Chapter.

To sign the online guest book, go to edgingtonfuneralhomes.com .