Kathryn "Cass" A. Lanning

Kathryn “Cass” Lanning, 95, of Breese, Illinois, former resident of Nelsonville, Ohio, entered Heaven on Monday, April 20, 2015. She was born December 9, 1919, in Connett, Ohio, to Thomas Rathe and Freda O’Dell (Bennett) Mills. They preceded her in death. She grew up in Carbondale, Ohio, and fondly referred to that as “home”. She married Frederick E. Lanning on March 2, 1940. He died on September 27, 1989.


Cass was a member of Nelsonville Wesleyan Church. She had been employed by the William Brooks Shoe Company and worked as a cook at Mt. St. Mary’s hospital. Her greatest job was raising her family. She and her husband enjoyed many years of travel. Cass was known to be very straightforward, a hard worker, and never left a job undone. Because of declining health, it was necessary that she move to Illinois where she could be cared for by family. She showed a lot of spunk and had a joy for living. Never a day went by without her talking about her beloved Ohio and the memories she made there.


In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by three sons, David Lanning (in infancy), T. Clyde Lanning, and Kelsie K. Lanning, Sr., one grandson, Adam Lanning, three brothers and three sisters, Edward Mills, Thomas Mills, Samuel “Art” Mills, Helen Chesser, Mary Saddler, and Francis Thompson.

Left to celebrate her memory, includes her son Fred (Christie) Lanning of Trenton, Illinois, daughter-in-law Reta Lanning of Fort Myers, Florida, eleven grandchildren: Cyndi (Daniel) Shapero, Brian Lanning, Kelsie (Ashley) Lanning, Jr., Derrick Lanning, Teresa (Drew) Clark, D.J. (Dana)Wolfe, Lance (Tammy) Lanning, Tisha Lanning, Katie (Greg) Reymond, Natalie (Cameron) Ketrow, and Tom (Shawnee) Lanning, fourteen great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Ernie Lanning and Joe (Ruth) Lanning, sister-in-law, Mary Lanning, many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Souers-Cardaras Funeral Home, 46 Fayette St., Nelsonville with Pastor Mike Thomas officiating. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Nelsonville. Friends may call from 9:00 AM, until the time of service, at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Nelsonville Wesleyan Church, Corner of Chestnut and Harper Streets, Nelsonville, OH 45764.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.cardaras.com