Kathy Schnakenberg, 69, of Colorado Springs, CO passed away on July 15, 2022, at Bear Creek Senior Living after an extended battle with cancer.  Kathy was born on March 16, 1953, in Rock Springs, WY to Dorothy Kuhlman Schnakenberg and Lorence Schnakenberg.  Kathy grew up in Concordia, MO, where she graduated from Concordia High School and Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.  After brief stints working as a recreation director and mail carrier in the Galveston area, she began her life-long career with the railroad.  She worked as a brakeman/switchman for the Santa Fe Railroad, an operating practices safety inspector for the Texas Railroad Commission, and a safety inspector for the Federal Railroad Administration.  Kathy’s many positions took her to Billings, MT, Portland, OR, Kansas City, MO and Washington, D.C.  Kathy moved to Colorado Springs in 2011, where she retired in 2013.  

When Kathy was younger, she loved the outdoors – playing softball, camping, riding motorcycles, and snow skiing.  Kathy is survived by her siblings, Joyce Hollingsworth of Sweet Springs MO, Gary (Helga) Schnakenberg of Colorado Springs, Linda Yates of Kansas City, MO, Mark (Patty) Schnakenberg of Concordia MO, and Curt Schnakenberg of Katy, TX.  She was preceded in death by her parents and oldest brother Don Schnakenberg of Tucson, AZ.  Kathy will forever be remembered for her loving and generous spirit.  She saw the best in everyone and loved spoiling her nieces and nephews.  A celebration of Kathy’s life will be announced at a future date.