Current Services

Katherine Ann McKenna
09-10-2025

Katherine Ann McKenna, aged 41, passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Charlotte, NC. Kate was born on July 6, 1984, to Sherrilyn Dirksen and Donald McKenna at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Kate was a life-long learner and lover of education, having graduated from Augustana College with a bachelor’s degree in English as well as an MBA and an M.Ed., both from the University of Sioux Falls. She was passionate about learning and teaching, recently taking great pride in helping a tutoring student pass his SAT.

Kate was known for her quick wit, sarcastic sense of humor, fun-loving spirit, and endless resilience. She loved Hanson, the color pink, anything Barbie, reading a good book, brunch, playing Candy Crush, being near the ocean, all-you-can-eat crab legs, and (very importantly) the Oxford comma. She hated raspberries, driving in the rain, drinking tap water, being told what to do, losing at any board or card game, and house plants.

She is survived by her mother: Sherrilyn Dirksen; her father: Donald McKenna; her step-father: Jeffrey Dirksen; her step-mother: Roxanna McKenna; her sisters: Stacy Fisher and Nikki Dirksen; her brother: Derrick McKenna; her brothers-in-law: Josh Fisher and Adam Labat; her sister-in-law: Stephanie McKenna; her lifelong friends: Ellen Burns and Nicole Clarke; wonderful aunts and uncles, and numerous other beloved family members and long-time friends; and her favorite dog: Venus.

Kate was preceded in death by her grandfathers Harold Schwartz, “Mac” McKenna, and Don Tjaden; and her cousin, Brooke Schwartz.

A Celebration of Kate’s life will be held in Sioux Falls, SD at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home on Friday, September 19th at 6:00 PM; a light meal of brunch foods will be provided. Condolences for the family may be sent to the funeral home.

For those attending, the family kindly requests that you wear pink and, if you feel so inclined, bring a favorite Kate story to share. In honor of Kate’s love of color, her mom requests brightly colored flowers for the celebration of life. In true Kate fashion (who always hated houseplants), her sisters jokingly request houseplants instead. If you feel inclined to send something, choose whichever would make you smile and think of Kate.

MmmBop.