Katie Jane Kochmann

Published June 19, 2020 at 3:14 PM

Katie Jane Kochmann, age 19, died at home in International Falls, MN on June 11, 2020 under the care of Fair View Hospice, surrounded by family and friends.

Katie was born in Detroit Lakes, MN on March 14, 2001 to Lillian (Crandall) Kochmann and Derek Kochmann. She graduated from Littlefork-Big Falls High School on May 22, 2020. Her senior classmates dedicated their Yearbook to honor Katie.

Katie loved music, singing, dancing, listening to books, summers at the lake and activities camps in Grand Forks and Bemidji. She was gentle and curious. She liked pretty smells and doing girly things. She enjoyed teasing and holding babies. She also rough housed with cousins.

She was diagnosed with Batten Disease in 2015. Although this rare genetic disease caused her blindness to begin around age 5 and seizures that started about age 10, Katie had a very kind heart, a thoughtful spirit and a brave soul - she was a joy to be with and we are all so proud of her inner strength.

Katie is survived by her parents Lillian Crandall (Steve Thomopoulos) of International Falls, MN and Derek Kochmann of Mahnomen, MN; her brothers Calvin Thomopoulos of International Falls, MN and Riley Kochmann of Fosston, MN; her sisters Kimberly Thomopoulos and Bethany Kochmann of International Falls, MN; her niece Sarrinna and nephew Christopher Thomopoulos of International Falls, MN; her grandparents Otto and Evelyn Crandall of Beaulieu, MN and James and Stephanie Diane Kochmann of Mahnomen, MN; her great grandparents Donald and Nora Jane Thompson of Mahnomen, MN; her uncles Clyde Crandall, Jeff (Merri Lou) Crandall and Andy Crandall; her aunts Paulie (John) Neisen of Mahnomen, MN, Linda (Matt) Kulzer, Julie (David) Loebrick, Kristy (Bert) Leslie and Sarah (David) Markert of Bemidji, MN; and 15 cousins.

She was preceded in death by her great grandparents Norbert and Margaret Kochmann, George and Leola Crandall and George and Martha Jirik.

Inurnment will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Beaulieu, MN.

Blessed be the memory of Katie Jane Kochmann.