Dates
It never took long for those who met Dr. Kathryn Elizabeth Artnak to discover the joy that perpetually exuded from her. Known by her loved ones as "Katie," she was a beaming ray of light and a truly selfless woman. At age 64, she jumped into the loving arms of Jesus at Shannon Memorial Hospital on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 after courageously battling cancer for nearly two years. The eldest of eight children, Katie was born on Oct. 19, 1951, to Eugene Corcoran, Jr. and Rosemary (Taylor) Corcoran at Camp Pendleton, California.
Her academic career was impressive. She earned a B.S.N. from Ball State University, an M.S.N. from Catholic University of America, a Ph.D. from the University of Texas Health Science Center, and a M.A. from Loyola University. When Katie was an undergraduate student at Ball State University, as the Vietnam War raged on, she joined the U.S. Navy. Her military nursing career took her to San Diego, where she cared for both troops returning from Vietnam and their families. While stationed there, she also met her husband, Dr. Joe Artnak, a Navy physician. They married at the Basilica of Notre Dame. The two were stationed in Japan before Katie left the Navy and traveled with her husband, who was stationed in Bethesda, Maryland, and Jacksonville, Florida. Once Joe completed his service obligation, he accepted a position as a gastroenterologist at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, where he and Katie would move and live for over 30 years to raise a family. The couple had two sons and two daughters, whose friends affectionately referred to Katie as "Mommy Artnak." "Mommy Artnak" was legendary for welcoming all of her children's friends into her family with open arms and treating them like one of her own: from family vacations, to holidays, to the best chicken tortilla soup...Katie always made you feel welcome. With her children in school, Katie completed her Ph.D., and in 1995 began teaching nursing at Angelo State University. She was a professor of health policy, theory and ethics. Her areas of research included subject matters such as global initiatives in nursing, advanced-care planning in certain populations and clinical ethics. From her office in ASU's Center for Community Wellness, Engagement and Development (the "WED Center") – Katie also conducted research on end-of-life care and chronic illness for the CareGiver Research Institute. She maintained a practice at Shannon Hospital as a clinical ethics consultant, and chaired the Hospital Ethics Committee. Katie was a true pioneer in clinical ethics and palliative care. One of Katie's most recent passions involved leading a group of graduate nursing students on ASU's first-ever study abroad trip to Africa. The group spent two weeks in Malawi in southeast Africa presenting educational programs at Daeyang Nursing College, and working alongside faculty, students and staff at Daeyang Luke Hospital and Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe and St. Martin's Hospital in Malindi. Katie was a devout Catholic and a devoted Notre Dame fan, to say the least. Katie was also masterful at making people feel special. She sent legendary care packages -- even for holidays such as Cinco de Mayo -- using any excuse to surprise her loved ones and making sure they knew how loved and special they were. Katie enjoyed watercolor painting, traveling, especially to the lakeshores of Lake Michigan in Saugatuck with her family, and anything that involved her children and grandchildren -- Mary Kathryn and Johnny were the light of her world. She was a truly devoted wife, mother and grandmother and unquestionably one of the most genuinely kind and devout people. Katie was treated throughout her illness by the Shannon Hospital staff who she considered family. The Artnak family cannot express enough gratitude for her love and care. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Our Lady of Grace Monastery, 6202 CR 339, Christoval, TX 76935.