Kathleen Lynn Savage was born September 6,1956 in Russell Kansas to Kenneth and Helen (Withrow) Savage. She passed from this life on March 31, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Kathy, or Savage as most of her friends called her, graduated from Salina Area Vo-Tech School in 1974 as an offset print apprentice. She worked various jobs through the years, but her life’s work was the painting business she ran for 38 years, The Savage Brush.
She deeply loved each dog she had over the years, especially Maynard and Beans. She loved Motown music, dancing, stargazing and fireworks. She enjoyed camping, biking, kayaking and especially fishing. She could sit for hours as long as there was a fishing pole in her hand. Wilson Lake was her happy place.
She devoted herself to those she cared about and was always willing to help. She had many lifelong friends. Her smile was infectious and she never met a stranger. She would talk to everyone she met as if she had known them all her life.
Kathy is survived by her loving wife, Kathleen L. Gifford; her children Travis (Audrea) Rickett, Trevor (Heidi) Rickett and Kaliana (Tori) Coppinger. Sisters; Debra (Tom) Schreck, Sheila (Larry) Karlin and Lesly (Kevin) Pfannenstiel and several nieces and nephews. She adored her 10 grandchildren: Owen, Edric, Tori, Marilyn, Korbin, Rose, Gwen, Alexis, Aspen and Riley. A great grandson, Liam Savage Toler, was born a week before her death. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved niece Kiley Rupp.
In honor of Savage, take the time to go stargazing or grab a pole and go fishing. She will be intensely missed by all of us who loved her.
Please join us for a celebration of Kathy’s life at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2258 Marigold Lane, Wichita KS on May 9th at 1 pm.