Linda K. "Kathi" Froelke

Linda Kathleen “Kathi” (Wakefield) Froelke passed away peacefully April 24, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. A resident of Vienna since 1973, Kathi was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She grew up in Englewood, Colorado, loving camping in the mountains, jeep trail riding, jeep racing, and the outdoors. She attended Sacred Heart College in Wichita, KS, and graduated with a B.A. degree in English from Wichita State University, where she met her future husband Gerald G. “Jerry” Froelke.

She married Jerry in 1967 and they moved to Virginia, living first in Alexandria. Kathi worked as an editor for The National Academy of Sciences. In 1973, they moved to Vienna, settling into a new house to raise their family.

Kathi was a homemaker, a direct sales consultant, a tireless volunteer and an enthusiastic supporter of her children’s schools and sports activities. She had a loving heart, an infectious laugh and lit up the room with her presence. Kathi never knew a stranger and made lifelong friends at bus stops, the DMV, airplanes, grocery stores, church pews and school bleachers. She possessed a rare talent of remaining calm and unflappable in stressful times. She was passionate about good manners, but would correct the grammar of a king. She enjoyed welcoming family, friends, and neighbors into her home and made friends with people from all cultures, ages and religions. Kathi was known for her love of books and movies and once laughed so heartily in a theater that a stranger joked that they should hire her. Her house was filled with laughter, love, and all genres of music, including Moonlight Sonata and Pineapple Rag that she played on the piano, and Les Miz, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra and more that she played on the stereo. A devoted Catholic, she loved women’s bible study and lived a life of faith, blessing everyone she encountered. Kathi had an extraordinary zest for life; she was adventuresome, and never turned down an opportunity to try something new. She delighted in family time, playing games, dancing, and singing.

Kathi was preceded in death by her parents Catharine and Tim Wakefield; her brother-in-law Lee Buchly, and her sister-in-law Marilyn Wakefield. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jerry Froelke; her children Kevin Froelke (Renee), Kristin Anderson (Russell), Mike Froelke (Buki), and Laura Froelke (Dean Mingee); 8 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; four siblings Mike Wakefield (Sally), Judy Buchly, Tim Wakefield (Ramie), Billy Wakefield; sister-in-law Marcia Coburn (Tom Bracken) and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 6th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Rd, Vienna, VA 22181, with burial immediately following at Andrew Chapel Cemetery 1308 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA 22182.

Please consider making a donation in Kathi’s name to:

Access Library Services

703-324-8380

2000 Government Center Parkway

Suite 123

Fairfax, VA 22035

or

Brain Aneurysm Foundation https://www.bafound.org/