Sylvia Alice Kats passed away Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Andbe Home in Norton, Kansas at the age of 81.

She was born December 21, 1934 in Phillips County, KS the daughter of Henry G. Pakkebier and Alie (Tien) Pakkebier. She attended Luctor grade school and graduated from Prairie View High School in 1952.

She was united in marriage to Allan John Kats on August 19, 1954 at the Luctor Christian Reformed Church, Luctor, KS. During their first years of marriage they lived on a farm southeast of Long Island, KS and then in Phillipsburg, KS. In 1962 they moved to Long Island where they lived the remainder of their married life. Sylvia moved to Norton, KS in 2012 due to health reasons.

Sylvia was a homemaker when her five children were young. She became a bus driver for Northern Valley Schools in 1967 and drove until 2005. In 1977 she bought the café where she had also been working as a waitress. She named it the Island Café. Her husband helped her during the noon rush. Her son, Stuart, later joined her and Allan at the café and they served the community for 35 years. She proved to be a great businesswoman. The café was the gathering place for many in the community. She considered her customers as family.

She loved to read, crochet and attend her grandchildren's school events. After she was diagnosed with cancer, she didn't let chemotherapy get her down. She rarely missed an event or a day of work while she was fighting cancer. She always said she decided she wasn't going to be a victim. She never complained about her health or pain. When asked how she was doing she always said, "I am just fine, how are you?" She had true grit and spunk.

Through the years she was a strong supporter of the community, church and schools.

Her husband Allan John Kats preceded her in death on November 21, 2005.

Survivors include her children, Jennifer Fessenden and husband, Chuck of Almena KS, Susan Lowry and husband, Bill of Hoisington, KS, Norman Kats of Norton, KS, Stuart Kats of Norton, KS, and Shawni Richardson and husband, Todd of Gardner, KS, brother Tenis Pakkebier and wife Jo of Prairie View, KS, sister-in-law Marie Pakkebier of Densmore, KS, brother-in-law Kenneth Kats of Lemitar, NM, 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Sylvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a remarkable and one-of-a–kind woman who will be missed dearly by many.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday, April 29th, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Long Island United Methodist Church, Long Island, KS, with Pastor's Ted Stapleton & Paul Schupmann officiating. Burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery.

Sylvia will lie in state from 9 am to 9 pm Wednesday & Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with the family receiving friends Thursday evening from 7 pm to 8:30 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Andbe Home Transportation Fund or Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University.