Katie Ann Klimkowski

Klimkowski, Katie Ann, age 20, lifelong Harrah resident passed away unexpectedly Monday, September 5, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma.

Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at Walker Funeral & Cremation Service from 1-6pm on Sunday, September 11 and from 8am-6pm on Monday, September 12.  A memorial ceremony to celebrate Katie's remarkable life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17 in the Gym at Harrah High School.  Katie will be laid to rest privately at the Jamison Cemetery north of McLoud, Oklahoma.

Katie was born on July 20, 2002 in Stillwater, OK to Mark A. Klimkowski and Lori A. (Ford) Klimkowski.  She was raised in Harrah, attending all 13 years of elementary, middle, and high school there before graduating as Co-Valedictorian with the class of 2021.  After high school, Katie attended Southwestern College in Winfield, KS were she was a member of the women’s basketball and track teams and more recently began attending at the University of Oklahoma in Norman where she was pursuing a degree in journalism.   To say Katie had a "zest for life" would be an understatement.  Katie touched so many lives with her overwhelming kindness, bright wit, commitment to integrity, and strong self-motivation.  Patriotic, athletic, artistic, and academic are a few words which Katie embodied.  She was patriotic in that she loved her country and recognized the sacrifices of others in securing freedom.  Athlete in basketball, cross-country and track and a dedicated team leader. She was the team captain for all three sports her senior year and played League basketball for ten years. Artistic in her ability to paint and draw, which seemingly came easy to her.  As an academic, her educational pursuits exemplified her commitment to excellence.  Even recently, she had been published in the OU Daily and was excited about the feedback she had received for her journalism efforts.  As well, Katie was a good friend to others.  Friendships were kindled quickly, but then treasured over the long term.  Katie was known to look out for others to make sure they felt like they were included.  Katie will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.             

Survivors include her parents: Mark & Lori Klimkowski of Harrah, brother Louis Morris and wife Sarah of Cushing, OK, maternal grandmother Judith A. Ford of Yale, OK, aunts and uncles: John E. Ford of Perkins, OK, Robert L. Ford and wife Yvette of Ripley, OK, Bernadette Klimkowski and Jim Dawson of Harrah, OK, Paul Klimkowski and wife Camillia of Falls Church, VA, Joe Klimkowski and wife Paula of Carmel, IN, cousins: Justin Ford, McKyna Ford, Caleb Ford and wife Holly, Matthew Ford, Jeremiah Klimkowski, Adam Klimkowski,  as well as Claudie LaFlash and husband Matt.

Katie was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather Frank Ford, paternal grandparents, Valentine and Rosie Klimkowski as well as her cousin Gabrielle Klimkowski.

Memorial donations in Katie's memory may be made to the Humane Society of Stillwater, 1710 S. Main Street, Stillwater, OK 74074, hspets.org/donate/ or the OU Foundation, Gaylord College Dean's Excellence Fund, 100 West Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019, home.oufoundation.org