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1921 Euguen 2015

Euguen Katterjohn

May 4, 1921 — September 11, 2015

Herman Eugene Katterjohn, Jr.

May 4, 1921 - September 11, 2015

Paducah businessman and civic leader Gene Katterjohn died at his home early Friday morning, September 11, 2015. He was born in Paducah on May 4, 1921. He attended Paducah schools, graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, TN, and from Purdue University in 1943 with a degree in pharmacy and a ROTC commission. After attending Officer Candidate School, he was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK where he served as an instructor and a liaison pilot for field artillery.

He later served as an Army aviator in Korea during the Korean War. He owned and operated Owen Cleaners for 40 years, 20 of those years with his father-in-law, Horace Owen. He served as director of the American Division of The Johnson Group Cleaners, Liverpool, England for 12 years. He was invited thirteen onsecutive years to the Varsity International Dry Cleaners and was chairman in 1976.

He was past chairman of the board of the Paducah Bank and Trust Company on whose board he served since 1958. At the time of his death, he was consulting director with the bank. He was a former member of the Paducah Tourist Commission, the Paducah Convention Center Board, the Paducah Water Works and the Greater Paducah Industrial Foundation.

In 2003 he established the first endowed professorship for research at the University of Kentucky Engineering School of Paducah.

He was a lifetime member of the United Church of Paducah where he served as an elder.

Mr. Katterjohn is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Ezzell Katterjohn; two daughters, Susan Walker and husband Robert L. Walker of Cincinnati, OH, Carolyn Perry and husband David R. Perry of Paducah, KY; four grandchildren, R. Owen Walker and wife Anna of Nashville, TN, Leigh Walker of Charleston, SC, Emily Perry of Birmingham, AL, Matthew Perry of Paducah, KY; and three great grandchildren, Abigail, Calvin, and Evelyn Walker. Also surviving are step-daughter, Juliette Grumley and husband Dr. Paul Grumley of Paducah, KY; step-son, Calder Ezzell and wife Candy of Roswell, NM; four step-grandchildren, Dr. Bryan
Grumley of Louisville, KY, Miller Grumley of Paducah, KY, Charlotte Grumley Orlando of Herndon, VA, Thomas Grumley of Nashville, TN; five step-great grandchildren, Faith and Avery Grumley, Max and Caroline Grumley, and Juliette Orlando; and two nephews, Kenneth Katterjohn of Franklin, TN and Kyle Katterjohn of Paducah, KY.

Mr. Katterjohn was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Carolyn Owen Katterjohn; brother,
Herman Eugene Katterjohn, Jr. May 4, 1921 - September 11, 2015 Paducah businessman and civic leader Gene Katterjohn died at his home early Friday morning, September 11, 2015. He was born in Paducah on May 4, 1921. He attended Paducah schools, graduated from Columbia Military Academy in Columbia, TN, and from Purdue University in 1943 with a degree in pharmacy and a ROTC commission. After attending Officer Candidate School, he was stationed at Ft. Sill, OK where he served as an instructor and a liaison pilot for field artillery.
He later served as an Army aviator in Korea during the Korean War.

He owned and operated Owen Cleaners for 40 years, 20 of those years with his father-in-law,
Horace Owen.He served as director of the American Division of The Johnson Group Cleaners, Liverpool, England for 12 years. He was invited thirteen consecutive years to the Varsity International Dry Cleaners
and was chairman in 1976. He was past chairman of the board of the Paducah Bank and Trust Company on whose board he served since 1958. At the time of his death, he was consulting director with the bank. He was a former member of the Paducah Tourist Commission, the Paducah Convention Center Board, the
Paducah Water Works and the Greater Paducah Industrial Foundation.

In 2003 he established the first endowed professorship for research at the University of Kentucky
Engineering School of Paducah. He was a lifetime member of the United Church of Paducah where he served as an elder. Mr. Katterjohn is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Ezzell Katterjohn; two daughters, Susan Walker and husband Robert L. Walker of Cincinnati, OH, Carolyn Perry and husband David R.
Perry of Paducah, KY; four grandchildren, R. Owen Walker and wife Anna of Nashville, TN, Leigh
Walker of Charleston, SC, Emily Perry of Birmingham, AL, Matthew Perry of Paducah, KY; and
three great grandchildren, Abigail, Calvin, and Evelyn Walker.

Also surviving are step-daughter, Juliette Grumley and husband Dr. Paul Grumley of Paducah, KY;
step-son, Calder Ezzell and wife Candy of Roswell, NM; four step-grandchildren, Dr. Bryan
Grumley of Louisville, KY, Miller Grumley of Paducah, KY, Charlotte Grumley Orlando of Herndon,
VA, Thomas Grumley of Nashville, TN; five step-great grandchildren, Faith and Avery Grumley,
Max and Caroline Grumley, and Juliette Orlando; and two nephews, Kenneth Katterjohn of
Franklin, TN and Kyle Katterjohn of Paducah, KY.

Mr. Katterjohn was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Carolyn Owen Katterjohn; brother,

Service Details

Friday, September 11th, 2015 12:30pm, Milner & Orr Funeral Home

Interment Details

Maplelawn Park Cemetery

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