Catherine Reichel

MADISON- Catherine Reichel, age 69, died unexpectedly on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, from septic shock.  She was born in Washington, D.C., to Al and Lilyan Atkinson on Sept. 19, 1948.  Catherine was raised in Chevy Chase, Md., and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (Go Barons!).  She attended George Washington University, New York University and received a M.F.A. degree from Pratt Institute (Go Pratt!) in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Catherine held various jobs throughout her life and as an adult lived in Washington, D.C., in Helena, Mont., and since 1981, in Madison.  This city girl quickly learned the wonderful benefits of living in a non-urban area in the upper Midwest.  Catherine definitely made Madison her home and really loved it here.  Over the past 30 years she developed an ongoing and successful antiques business at several area malls, especially at the Odana Antiques and Fine Arts Center.   She gave talks on antiques to various groups and also provided written and verbal appraisals for customers.  She met her husband, Paul in Washington in late 1976.  Catherine taught him about love, good food, books, the importance of having a pet cat, and how to engage in life.  He taught her the outdoors, the importance of exercise (she was an avid runner and won her age group at the 2011 Jingle Bell Run) and how to fly-fish.  Catherine loved to fish and insisted that every wedding anniversary meal feature trout that they had caught:  a tradition that took place every year for the entire 40 years they were together!  Her favorite place was Yellowstone National Park.  Catherine lived life fully and intensely.  She fell into bed every evening exhausted. She was energetic, almost always upbeat and vivacious.  Paul often told her that some people remember her as a “hoot” or a “character”.  Catherine is survived by her husband, Paul; her mother, Lilyan Atkinson; sisters, Carolyn Grimes and Rene Atkinson all of Rockville, Md.; and by brother, David Atkinson of Pawleys Island, S.C.  She was preceded in death by her father, Al Atkinson.  A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at OLBRICH BOTANICAL GARDENS, 3330 Atwood Ave., Madison, from 1 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, with a time of sharing at 2 p.m.  Memorial gifts in Catherine’s name may be made to Yellowstone Forever, phone (406) 848-2400, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190; or to Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, P O Box 45555, Madison, WI, 53744-5555.  Paul thanks the Meriter ER staff and its ICU staff for their exceptional efforts and care, especially Dr. Charlie Weber and nurses, Gail, Julie, Maria and everyone else in that special unit.  You never knew how much I really loved you.