Katherine A. Radcliffe

Katherine A. Radcliffe, nee Merten, 65, of Belleville, IL, born Thursday, June 28, 1956, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away Saturday, January 29, 2022 at BJC Hospice Evelyn’s House in Saint Louis, MO.

Kathy was a Computer Consultant and her passions were her family and travel. She loved every moment with her granddaughters, Anna and Lillian-especially traveling with them.

Kathy is an intrepid soul and fed that soul with travels around the world. The vast majority of her travels were with her husband, Jim, but she also traveled solo to such places as Budapest, Hungary, Krakow, Poland and Auschwitz. Her favorite place in the world was Zermatt, Switzerland. She loved planning trips as much as the actual travel. During planning, Kathy made friends with the folks at the hotels, the tour guides, etc. She always packed a bag of gifts and treats for the people she met along the way.

Kathy did not like to walk, so she trained for a year to prepare to hike the Camino de Santiago in 2014-approximately 500 miles from St. John Pied de Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The first 300 miles were tackled on her own, with Jim meeting her in Leon, Spain for the last 200 miles. Her then 7-year-old granddaughter, Anna and Anna’s dad, Brandon met Kathy and Jim in Sarria, Spain for the last 75 miles.

Kathy eschewed social media. However, when planning a trip to Australia a few years ago, she recalled a pen pal from Brisbane, Australia with whom she corresponded when she was 10 years old. She found that lady through Facebook, and she and Jim were able to spend 2 days visiting with her old pen pal, Kay, on the other side of the world.

Kathy had a fear of flying, but faced that fear by traveling the world.

Kathy hated the cold, but she and Jim were scheduled to be in Antarctica in January, 2022 (her last continent). Unfortunately, her quest to visit all seven continents was postponed last year due to COVID and her last illness prevented it this year. I am sure her intrepid soul has conquered Antarctica.

She was preceded in death by her:

• Parents: Edward H. and Patricia, A. nee McGraw, Merten
• Daughter: Grace Ann Radcliffe
• Brother: Thomas P. Merten

Surviving are her:

• Husband: Judge James M. Radcliffe III of Belleville, IL
• Daughter: Meghan (Brandon) Larkin of Kirkwood, MO
• Son: James E. Radcliffe of Kirkwood, MO
• Brothers
  • Edward H. Merten Jr. (Debbie) of Graford, TX
  • John K. (Margaret) Merten of Evansville, IN
  • Christopher A. (Anne) Merten of Jonesboro, AR
• Granddaughters
  • Anna Ruth Larkin
  • Lillian Eileen Larkin
• Sister-in-law: Bridget Merten of Evansville, IN
• Dear nieces and nephews

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Evelyn’s House or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Visitation: Visitation from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, Friday, February 4, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL.

Funeral: Funeral service will be held at 7:00 pm, Friday, February 4, 2022 at Kurrus Funeral Home, with Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Private interment at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Belleville, IL.

Live stream: Live streaming can be viewed starting at 6:55 pm on Friday, February 4, 2022 at www.facebook.com/KurrusFH.