Catherine (Tiny) Waterman-Sonder, 81, of Grand Island died Monday, October 21, 2013 at St. Francis Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 am Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Jonathan Sorensen will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Friday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a 7 pm rosary service.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Catherine was born on August 31, 1932 to Frank and Alice (McCready) Whitt in Cedar Rapids, NE. She grew up and graduated from Cedar Rapids High School. She attended Hastings College and graduated as a nurse.

She was united in marriage to Donald R. Waterman on November 27, 1954 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Catherine helped Donald in his land leveling company and was his biggest fan during his racing career. She also worked at restaurants and Midlands until becoming ill. Mr. Waterman preceded her in death.

On October 1, 2011 she married Robert Sonder at the St. Francis Hospital Chapel.

Before cancer she was active in a band with her husband and several friends. She loved listening to music and singing, bingo, shopping, playing cards, dancing and reading. Her favorite words were "bingo" and "ya right". Most of all she loved spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Catherine was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Survivors of the immediate family include her husband, Robert Sonder; three sons, Rick Waterman of Phillips, Mike (Wendy) Waterman of Grand Island, and Danny Whitt of Floressent, CO; five daughters, Deb Waterman, Charlene (Sam) Sanders, Pam Brandt, Cindy Waterman, all of Grand Island, and Sherry (Bob) Weidt of Hastings; a step daughter, Maria Tobeck of Eau Claire, WI.
She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, a sister, Patty Kremlacek of Omaha, two brothers, William (Dorothy) Whitt of South Beloit, IL and Ronald (Deb) Whitt of Wayne, NE, sister-in-law, Kay Waterman of Grand Island, and many nieces and nephews. Catherine was also a "grandma" to many other families throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, three brothers, Francis Whitt, Glen Whitt and Jimmy Wilson, two sisters, Eileen Wilson and Ginger Wilson, and a great granddaughter, Cassandra Waterman.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you friends and family and to Dr. Jana Van Wie, Dr. Ramaeker and Megan, Rev. Jose Flores, Fr. Jonathan Sorensen, as well as everyone who cared for Catherine at Good Samaritan, Home Health Care, and St. Francis Medical Center.


Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 am Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Father Jonathan Sorensen will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Friday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home with a 7 pm rosary service.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.