Kathleen 'Kathy' Goodwin, 79

Kathleen Goodwin, born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 29, 1946, to parents Frank and Mildred Klich, passed away Feb. 20, 2026, at the age of 79.  

She is survived by her daughter, Holly; son, Andrew; granddaughter, Tori; Todd, Gwen, and Nathan Ovnicek; and the Todd family. While living most of her life in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Kathy had many accomplishments, the vast majority in direct service to her family and community. Through 29 years of dedication to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, she served multiple terms as Chief of Staff and then as Commodore, managing the water safety vessels for major lake events, including the Ironman Triathlon. She was committed to providing free life jackets at public boat launches, and when going for a meal with family, always insisted that at least one launch was “on the way,” regardless of location.

Kathy was extremely involved with her beloved St. Pius Church. Whether making sure food was available for those in need, organizing and shipping a giant box of pencils to a small African school, managing the kitchen, or urging people to bring any and all pets to Blessing of the Animals, no job was too large or small.  

Helping animals was her greatest passion, dedicating countless hours to Companions Animal Center. In euthanasia situations, Kathy greeted the families and personally brought each animal back, staying with them until their final breath. It was incredibly important to her that no animal die alone, and she saw to that herself.

In a testament to her character, when Kathy didn’t show for one of her many volunteer shifts, the police were contacted. Only one thing could keep her from fulfilling a commitment. Kathy’s impact on this community is immeasurable, and her absence will be felt both broadly and deeply. Her dedication, perseverance, and sense of duty remain unparalleled.   

A rosary will be held at 10:15 a.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026, at St. Pius X Catholic Church (625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815).  A memorial mass will follow the rosary starting at 11 a.m.  A graveside service will be held at noon, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at Spokane Memorial Gardens (5909 S. Cheney Spokane Road, Spokane, WA 99224). Please visit Kathy’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.