Kathy Debman Rohlena (Hazelwood)

Kathy Debman Rohlena (Hazelwood) of Port Orchard, WA and soon-to-be Las Vegas, NV, favorite (and only) daughter of the late R.J. Debman and Yukiko Debman, celebrated Independence Day in her own way by having her Freedom Day from this world on July 4, 2022 due to cardiac arrest in Las Vegas, NV.

Kathy was born in Yokohama, Japan on October 31, 1967, where her affinity for sushi and sashimi was cultivated. She attended grade schools in Japan, New Mexico, California, and Washington State. While living in Japan, her idiot brother played with a space heater and caught a piece of paper on fire – while he was freaking out, Kathy calmly picked up the burning paper and put it in the sink – thereby saving both of them as well as the row of houses they lived on (this gene was passed on to her oldest son, currently serving as a volunteer firefighter and working for the US Forest Service).

Partially due to this, and as that favorite daughter, she attended Evergreen Lutheran High School in Dupont, WA and graduated in 1985 at the top of her large class of peers of less than 50 and either starred in or was begged to play all the sports just to field a team; albeit being named the MVP for most.

She applied and was accepted at all of the Service Academies (yes, counting the Coast Guard Academy) and ultimately decided to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point on a whim and joke to her Dad, who retired from the US Navy.

Kathy graduated from West Point in 1989 (only because of her I-Rock roommates – Anne, Diane, and Sally) and commissioned into Active Duty as a Military Intelligence officer. She attended the MI Officer Basic Course in Arizona before being stationed in Hawaii, doing whatever Intelligence officers do when they work; however, she did state that what she did was so special that the Army intentionally spelled RADAR backwards to confuse our adversaries.

Because she spent a lot of time on the beach with a Marine Corps pilot (to be mentioned later), Kathy tracked so much sand into work that the Army decided to punish her by transferring her to Fort Lewis, WA – for you old timers, it is now called Joint Base Lewis McChord. She eventually separated from the Army with an Honorable Discharge, and entered the civilian workforce working in HR for the city of Tukwila. During this time, her Dad, the late R.J. Debman, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and Kathy did the Herculean task of being there for the family, taking her Dad to appointments, and asking hard questions of the treating doctors (this comes into play later in her career development).

She eventually transitioned to work for Paccar in HR but her position was eliminated (we believe it might be some of that Hawaii sand still stuck in her shoes). She started anew by working on her RN degree, then eventually receiving a Masters in Nursing. She was employed as an oncology nurse working for Dr. Nick Chen before transitioning to working for the Seattle VA in the immunology/oncology clinic.

In April 2021, Kathy was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer which affected her liver and colon. She bravely accepted the challenge, and the targeted treatments started to work. A fundraising effort was started to help pay for the enormous medical bills – ironically, that Marine Corps pilot from Hawaii was able to track her down and reached out to her in January 2022 (and started plotting her escape from Washington State and their future together in Vegas). Continuing to see positive results from her treatment, Kathy was able to have surgery in June 2022 and was back at work before the end of the month.

She traveled to Las Vegas for the 4th of July weekend, where she passed away in the arms of the only man who treated her the way she deserved to be treated.

Her highlights include never getting into trouble with her parents while growing up, being the only person at her senior prom with her own chauffer (thanks Mr. Cunningham!), receiving zero demerits at West Point (she actually received quite a few), giving birth to her 2 boys who meant the world to her, and frolicking in the sand in Hawaii. One little known tidbit is that she was originally supposed to play opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun, but the Army wouldn’t allow her to have a break at West Point to do the filming. Feeling she missed out, she flew around Oahu in a convertible Mazda Miata, almost reliving what she would have driven in Top Gun. The Harley Davidson bug bit her around 1999 until she got bored with riding a Hugger (and she refused to get tattoos and become a motorcycle mama).

She is especially proud of her boys and their resilience in times of turbulence. She sacrificed more than any will know to provide a stable and supportive home for them, even during her time of pain and suffering. From an email she sent when she was first diagnosed and wanted the world to see – “Boys, there may be a time I’m not physically there any more. But remember, my spirit will always be there. Know that you aren’t alone – there’s going to be lots of people to look after you. There are people who can be there for you in a moments notice – from my West Point classmates, to other West Point alumni, Tanya, Krystyna, and Julie – your Uncle Donny knows a lot of people too. You will never be alone and there will always be someone there for you no matter what. Know that my love for you is forever.”

For Graham Wells, the family is forever grateful for you reentering Kathy’s life, treating her like no other, and most importantly, accepting her as who she is with her conditions instead of running. In typical USMC fashion, while others run away from gunfire, you ran towards it – in this case Kathy – and embraced her and loved her unconditionally. We will always consider you a part of the family. Your love for Kathy is reminiscent of the movie “The Love Story” where a man falls in love with a woman with a terminal illness – and was there at the very end. Your timing was divine – the right man, the right place, and the right time (again!).

For the family (that includes you Graham!) – just remember that she was always looking for more…and she actually received a job offer she couldn’t refuse. The sign-on bonus was astronomical, and includes a family reunion with family and friends she hasn’t seen in a long time. Job security is 110%. Music, laughter, and love are guaranteed. Food is heavenly and you can eat as much as you want without gaining an ounce. But the clincher for this job was a reunion with her Dad so they could be adversaries again every time the Army-Navy game is played.

Special thanks to her West Point classmates, other West Point alumni who supported her, and to Tanya, Krystyna, and Julie for being there especially the last year. And for those that went on the retreat and sent cards of encouragement, know that she had those displayed on her nightstand to give her strength every day. Additionally for Chriss Chavez for everything you have done keeping the class notified.

Kathy is survived by her mother, Yukiko Debman, sons Grant Victor and Grady Victor, future husband MAJ Graham Wells (USMC RET), brother Don Hazelwood, sister-in-law Sheryl Hazelwood, nieces Sydney and Raleigh Hazelwood, and nephews Xane, Boston, and Kingston Hazelwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name so support her children at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kathy-hazelwood-89-stage-4-colon-cancer?qid=99377b33337950770fe5317c1880feb5

And when our work is done,
Our course on earth is run,
May it be said, 'Well Done;
Be Thou At Peace.'
E'er may that line of gray
Increase from day to day,
Live, serve, and die, we pray,
West Point, for thee.