Katherine M. Byrd

Katherine M. 'Bobby' Byrd, 80, died Monday, August 31, 2009, in Mercy Medical Center after a long illness. Funeral Mass: 9:30 a.m. Friday, September 4, 2009, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Visitation from 4 - 8 p.m. Thursday, September 3, 2009, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Survivors include her husband, Ivan; children, William (Sherry), Joseph (Deborah), Barbara (Gary) Klawiter, Janice (Justin) See; grandchildren, Julia (Mike) Wolfe, Joseph (Carrie) Byrd II, David (Andrea) Byrd, William (Cindy) Klawiter, Kevin (Julie) Klawiter, Michael Byrd, Travis Carr, Emily Carr (fianc�� Andrew Cullen), Alicia Carr, Allison See, Andrew and Jennifer Shea; great grandchildren, Sophia, Lilia, John, and Caleb Wolfe, Aleena, Isabel, Maci, and Brock Klawiter, Elijah Byrd, and two long awaited soon to be born; brothers, Melvin, James, Edward (Sally) Schmuecker; sisters, Virginia (Donald) Becker, Colleen Callan; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred J. And Loretta B. Brecht Schmuecker; daughter, Mary Kay; son, John Andrew Byrd; brother-in-law, Richard Callan; and sisters-in-law, Joanne and Catherine Schmuecker. Bobby was born October 26, 1928 in Walker, Iowa. She was raised with 5 siblings in Watkins, Iowa where her dad was the Watkins Bank Manager. She graduated from the Mt. Mercy Academy in 1946 and the Mercy Nursing School in 1949 with a 4 year RN degree. She started her career at Mercy Hospital then Queen of Angels Infirmary at Mt. Mercy College, and Regis High School. She returned to Mercy Hospital where she worked in Zone 41, where she was one of Mrs. Sutter's girls. Bobby married Ivan 'Al' Byrd of Olin, Iowa on September 8, 1951 at St. Patrick's Church in Watkins, Iowa. Bobby and Al raised their five children in Cedar Rapids. Bobby was a great baker and cook, so many neighbor children came to the house to eat and hang out. She was a long time member of Immaculate Conception Parish where she was a cantor, member of the funeral choir, and the liturgy committee. In her lifetime, she belonged to the Catholic Foresters, Waltonian Archers, and Mound View Association. Bobby loved fishing with Al, crocheting, fine needle work, garment and quilt sewing, and was an avid reader. She also had a great love for music and was an accomplished pianist. Bobby's faith in God carried her through it all to the end. The family would like to thank Dr. Mary Anne Nelson and Dr. Jolynn Glanzer, and the staff and nurses of Mercy Hospital and Hallmar.