With beauty, dignity, and grace, Kathleen Elizabeth Martin, 63, took flight to her next adventure on May 14, 2023 after a courageous battle against ALS.

Kathleen was born on June 19, 1959, in Victorville, California. She was the third of seven children born to J. Michael and Helen (Howe) Martin. Being a child of an Air Force officer meant several moves while growing up, from California to Dover, Delaware in 1963, to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, back to Dover, DE in 1966 and to the San Diego, CA area in 1973 where Kathleen remained as a young adult. Whether early in life when moving often or later in her high school, college and work years, Kathleen easily made friends that became lifelong connections wherever she went.

After graduating from Monte Vista High School in 1976, Kathleen made her way living on her own working and attending San Diego Mesa Community College where she earned an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology in 1988. Kathleen later obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work with a minor in Clinical Psychology from San Diego State in 1991. It was in 1994 that Kathleen finished her Master of Social Work degree with a Mental Health Concentration and an Administrative Track from San Diego State University. It is hard to convey the effort and the perseverance that these educational accomplishments required of Kathleen, but these achievements occurred during a time in which Kathleen got married at a young age, had her daughter, Jeanine, got divorced, lived life as a single mom, and later had her son, Dylan. Additionally, Kathleen fully admitted she struggled tremendously at times during these years with alcohol dependence. However, Kathleen overcame her alcohol dependence and was very proud to have lived the last 34 years of her life sober with the help and support of meetings, friends, and those she mentored.

Kathleen had a nearly 30 year career in the field of Social Work. Kathleen’s work was varied and diverse but each position involved use of her traits of being a loving, caring, giving, patient, and kind servant to her community. Kathleen was licensed in the states of Washington and California. She worked for nearly ten years at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA providing services to patients in the lung and liver transplant units. Kathleen also lived several years in Germany while providing support and counseling services to adolescents at Ramstein Air Force Base. Kathleen spent the last ten years, before ALS required her to retire, working for the Veterans Association of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System in San Luis Obispo, California during which time she helped homeless veterans. When progressing ALS prohibited her from working full time, she continued as a video therapist until the ALS took Kathleen’s ability to speak clearly.

Kathleen was a devoted mother to her two children, Jeanine and Dylan. She was also a loving Nana to her three grandsons, Liam, Leif, and Cassius. Visits from her children and grandsons to Cambria in the past couple years brought such joy to her life. Kathleen had an enormous love for animals and had several pets over the years including dogs, cats, and birds. She had an especially deep bond with her much loved and loyal canine companions Sunny Bear, Jack and Lani Kai. Lani Kai was instrumental in providing Kathleen with much needed comfort during her most difficult times at the end of her life.

Through the years Kathleen made time for another passion, traveling to places such as Mexico, Thailand, much of Europe especially when she lived in Germany, Hawaii and many other places throughout the US to visit family. Kathleen also valued the pursuit of continued personal growth and self exploration. She treasured her visits to Esalen at the Big Sur campus and had a great reverence for Gestalt Therapy and her studies there.

It was in 2012 when Kathleen and Richard Strassel met. The two married on 12/24/2014 and spent their time happily in Morro Bay, California and the last few years in nearby Cambria, the place that was intended as their forever home. Rich was at Kathleen’s side for the past two plus years tirelessly providing her with love, support, and care as ALS progressively took its toll on Kathleen. With the help of Rich as well as Kathleen’s helper and dear friend, Amber, Kathleen was able to remain in her and Rich’s beloved home until the very end. Her final weeks were spent with her daughter, Jeanine, at her side. In her final days, Kathleen’s son, Dylan, was also there as well as her oldest sister and close ally, Phyllis, to help in Kathleen’s care. Kathleen passed peacefully with family surrounding her, some in body and others in spirit.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, J. Mike and Helen Martin and her brothers, David Martin and Joseph Martin.

Left to mourn the loss of Kathleen are her husband, Richard Strassel of Cambria, California, and her two children, Jeanine Carlson-Nelson (Joshua) of Rockport, Maine, and Dylan Martin (Kiara) of Seattle, Washington. Kathleen’s three grandchildren, Liam and Leif Carlson-Nelson of Rockport, Maine and Cassius Martin of Seattle, Washington will greatly miss their Nana. Kathleen’s four sisters, Phyllis Patten (Robert) of O’Fallon, Illinois, Sheila Rapp (Robert) of O’Fallon, Illinois, Theresa Gentle (Thomas Jr) of St. Michael, Minnesota, and Margaret Rose (Donald) of St. Charles, Missouri will long grieve for the loss of their beautiful sister. Nieces and nephews Jenny Martin, Stephen Walters, Grace Neeley (Branden), Keith Patten (Kacey), Elaine Tabor (Geoffrey), Christopher Rapp (Meghan), Jacob Rapp (Mollie), Thomas Gentle III, Cecilia Gentle, Samuel Gentle, and Luke Gentle and grandnieces and grandnephews, Natalie, Juliann and Charles Neeley, Jovie and Tessa Patten, and Owen and Mabry Rapp will also miss their Aunt Kathleen. So many others including her cousins, childhood, high school, and college friends, those from her support meetings, and work colleagues are also deeply saddened by the loss of their good friend, Kathleen.

The family is very appreciative of the services and support provided to Kathleen by Hospice of San Luis Obispo County and by Central Coast Home Health and Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of San Luis Obispo at https://hospiceslo.org/donate .

Alternatively, donations to the Golden West Chapter of the ALS Association are appreciated. https://secure2.convio.net/al… .

Private remembrances of Kathleen will be held at a later date.

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