Katie tugged at the heartstrings of the entire community of Rochester Hills, Michigan. The 21-year-old newlywed, with a contagious smile and unrelenting optimism, had battled cancer for three years. Less than two weeks ago, friends and neighbors came together to give her her dream wedding. She died at McLaren Hospital in Flint, just five days after marrying the love of her life and high school sweetheart. "It was wonderful. It was a dream come true," her husband, Nick Godwin, said of the Jan. 15 wedding ceremony. "She was the most beautiful angel ever -- just caring and selfless, and such an inspiration to everyone. She was always smiling no matter what happened, no matter what news she got. She was as close to perfect as they come." She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on Valentine's Day 2002, while she was a freshman and student athlete at Rochester College. The small Christian college in Rochester Hills rallied around her, and she battled back to continue her studies. Then, she was diagnosed in 2003 with an inoperable lung tumor wrapped around her pulmonary artery. She fought back by training and raising $28,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation's annual Ride for the Roses. She is survived by her beloved husband, Nick,; her parents, Niki and David Kirkpatrick; in-laws, Larry and Sandy Godwin; sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Kevin Nelms; and nephew Jake Nelms.
Katie tugged at the heartstrings of the entire community of Rochester Hills, Michigan. The 21-year-old newlywed, with a contagious smile and unrelenting optimism, had battled cancer for three years. Less than two weeks ago, friends and neighbors came together to give her her dream wedding. She died at McLaren Hospital in Flint, just five days after marrying the love of her life and high school sweetheart. "It was wonderful. It was a dream come true," her husband, Nick Godwin, said of the Jan. 15 wedding ceremony. "She was the most beautiful angel ever -- just caring and selfless, and such an inspiration to everyone. She was always smiling no matter what happened, no matter what news she got. She was as close to perfect as they come." She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on Valentine's Day 2002, while she was a freshman and student athlete at Rochester College. The small Christian college in Rochester Hills rallied around her, and she battled back to continue her studies. Then, she was diagnosed in 2003 with an inoperable lung tumor wrapped around her pulmonary artery. She fought back by training and raising $28,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation's annual Ride for the Roses. She is survived by her beloved husband, Nick,; her parents, Niki and David Kirkpatrick; in-laws, Larry and Sandy Godwin; sister and brother-in-law, Sara and Kevin Nelms; and nephew Jake Nelms.
Family Members
See more Godwin or Kirkpatrick memorials in:
- Hunters Creek Cemetery Godwin or Kirkpatrick
- Hunters Creek Godwin or Kirkpatrick
- Lapeer County Godwin or Kirkpatrick
- Michigan Godwin or Kirkpatrick
- USA Godwin or Kirkpatrick
- Find a Grave Godwin or Kirkpatrick
