Katherine M Dolle

Katherine M. (Sallee) Dolle, 74, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2023, at The Ganzhorn Suites Specialized Memory Care in Powell, Ohio, due to complications from dementia. She was surrounded by loved ones, including her husband, children, and the dedicated staff at Ganzhorn.

Kathy was born May 9, 1948 in Ames, Iowa to Sally and Eugene Sallee, the second youngest of five siblings. Her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio after her father was hired as Procter & Gamble’s first analytical chemist. Kathy graduated from Greenhills High School in 1966 and started dating her dearest Bob the summer after. Kathy and Bob fell in love over daily letters, summer vacations, and holiday breaks, as they spent the next four years apart at their respective undergraduate universities. Shortly after Kathy graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in early childhood education (class of 1970), she and Bob were married. Kathy taught first grade for three years in Forest Park (Cincinnati, Ohio) and earned a master's degree in educational psychology from Miami University before moving to Tucson, Arizona, where she became the director of a daycare center and Bob completed a four-year term in the Air Force. In 1978, Kathy and Bob returned to Cincinnati with baby Jon in tow.

Soon after, Kathy became a beloved member and leader at Northminster Presbyterian Church. She helped to start and direct the Northminster Preschool Co-op, planned and prepared themed meals for a weekly youth outreach program, taught Bible School and the Summer Reading Program, acted as a volunteer coordinator, delivered an occasional ‘Time with the Children’ sermon (to the delight of young and old members alike), and served on Session.

Kathy returned to teaching in 1992 and was a cherished teacher and mentor at Whitaker Elementary for almost 20 years. Kathy loved developing unique and engaging hands-on enrichment opportunities for students that covered topics such as apple cider making, sharks-teeth mathematics, Fun Food Friday (healthy eating A to Z), the Long Haul Trucking program, and Harriet the classroom tarantula. She was known to colleagues and students as a compassionate and creative educator, whose calm and reassuring energy could light up a room, even on the most challenging of days.

Kathy was a treasured friend, adoring mother, and loving wife. She gave selflessly and wholeheartedly to everyone around her and was most fulfilled when celebrating the accomplishments of others. Her humor and wit delighted friends and family, especially Bob, whose booming laugh often alerted you that Kath was near. Her unconditional love, patience, and wisdom were a blessing to her children and grandchildren. And even as dementia stole away Kathy’s mind and body, her sweet and feisty spirit burned bright to the very end.

Kathy is survived by her devoted husband of 52 years, Robert (Bob) H. Dolle; son, Jonathan Dolle and wife Sandra Park, of Oakland, CA; daughter Jessica Seay and husband Jonathan, of Worthington, OH; and daughter Laura Dolle and husband, William Burton, of Worthington, Ohio; and her three grandchildren, Calvin Seay, Nora Meister, and Jasper Park-Dolle. In addition, she is survived by her mother-in-law, Ruth M. Dolle, of Venice, FL; brothers David Salle (Bonnie) of Albuquerque, NM; Fred Sallee (Anna) of Lubbock, TX, and Robert Sallee (Susie) of Colorado Springs, CO; sister Janet Smith (Graig) of Cincinnati, OH; and twelve nieces and nephews.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Eugene and Sally Sallee, of Albuquerque, NM; father-in-law, Robert E. Dolle, of Cincinnati, OH; and son-in-law, Dylan Meister, of Columbus, OH.

A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held on August 26, 2023 at Spring Grove Funeral Home, 4389 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH, 45223. The visitation will be held from 1 PM until the time of the service at 2 PM, and lively reception to follow with food, drink, and reminiscing. All friends and family are welcome to join any or all parts of the celebration. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Finneytown Schools Educational Foundation online (http://bit.ly/kathydolle) or mailed to: Finneytown Schools Educational Foundation; P.O. Box 317647, Cincinnati, OH 45231. Gifts made in Kathy Dolle’s memory will be used to carry on her legacy of creative classroom enrichment for Finneytown elementary students.

For the availability to stream the service please use link: : https://2299-spring-grove-funeral-home-main.livecontrol.tv/60780d57