Kathryn Amelia Johnson Heldt

Kathryn Amelia Johnson Heldt, 98, of New Philadelphia, passed away April 7, 2021 in Community Hospice, Truman House at New Philadelphia.

Born April 3, 1923 in Tuscarawas, she was the daughter of the late George Frederick and Nora Pearl (Metzger) Johnson and a graduate of the former Tuscarawas / Warwick High School where she had perfect attendance from grades 1 through 12, was a cheerleader and also excelled in track. During World War II, Kathryn volunteered as a “Doughnut Dolly” at the Dennison Depot, serving coffee and doughnuts to the troops that were traveling through the area.

Kathryn had worked as the executive secretary for Ernest Nickles, at Nickles Bakery in Navarre and was a lifetime member of the Sharon Moravian Church at Tuscarawas. She served as a member of the church choir for over 50 years and was a longtime member of the Ladies Aid Quilting Circle. Still very athletic, Kathryn loved bowling, volleyball and softball and was still playing volleyball for her church’s team until she was well into her 70’s.

On December 15, 1943, Kathryn married her high school sweetheart, Clarence Philip “Putt” Heldt in Sharon Moravian Church at Tuscarawas and raised four daughters, Kathy, Lisa, Heidi and Jennifer. Together, they celebrated over 68 years of marriage before Putt’s passing on February 18, 2012.

Surviving are her daughters, Kathy (Dennis) Kopp of New Philadelphia, Lisa McCarthy of Key West, Florida, Heidi (Dr. Robert) Briggs of New Philadelphia and Jennifer (Paul) Feickert of New Philadelphia; a brother, Earl Johnson of Dover; a sister Ila Altier of New Philadelphia; her sister-in-law, Patricia Heldt of Wainwright; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Kathryn was also preceded in death by two infant sisters, Dorothy and Marjorie Johnson; two grandchildren, Joshua and Olivia Feickert; two sisters, Evelyn Klaserner and Eleanor Burmich and three brothers, Harold Metzger, Stanley Johnson and Dale Johnson.

The public is invited to a service celebrating Kathryn’s life which will be held outside in the Sharon Moravian Church Cemetery at Tuscarawas on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 1:30 PM with Rev. Lloyd Gooden officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 1 to 4 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home at New Philadelphia. Safety precautions will be taken and the 6-foot rule will be honored and all guests are required to wear a mask to enter the funeral home.

It was Kathryn’s request that memorial contributions be made to Sharon Moravian Church Memorial Fund, 4776 Moravian Church Road SE, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.