Kathleen McElmeel
December 1, 1929 ~ May 24, 2021
Kathleen A. McElmeel, 91, formerly of Marion, Iowa, died on Monday, May 24, 2021, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa. Kathleen was born December 1, 1929, in Dyersville, Iowa, home of the Field of Dreams. She married John McElmeel in 1951, at St Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, and received her education there at Xavier High School. Kathleen and John later moved to Marion and were lifelong members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She worked at Collins Radio during the Korean Conflict, but spent most of her years taking care of her family and home.
Survivors include daughters, Julie McElmeel, and Lori (Leon III) Durivage; son, Michael (Stacy) McElmeel; five grandchildren, Kristina, Leon IV, and John Durivage, and Leah and Jordan McElmeel; brother-in-law, Vern Havlik; and great-grandchildren Minka, Rockne, and Leon V.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John McElmeel; her parents, Henry and Mary Althaus; and sister, Helen Havlik.
Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. A livestream of the Funeral Mass can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9MFjmtqBqQ
Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids.
Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army.
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Grandma – You never stopped being joyful about what was going on in your life. If I can find the delight in life the way you did, I will consider myself having lived fully. I will miss your laugh and hearing about your detective novels, your walks, your coloring, and your friends and family. Love you.
Katie, I have so many memories I don’t know where to begin. What I remember most are your beautiful smile, your easy laugh, and your love of life! You will always be in my heart and thoughts. Love – Leon
Katie loved visiting with family and friends, reading her books, taking care of her Marion home and her new friends in Pella. Enjoy!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My thoughts and prayers are with Kathleen’s family. I will miss her smile when she came to Crestview to visit Julie.
Remembering you and your mom in our minds and in our hearts.
I was so sad to hear of Katie’s passing . Katie was my neighbor and my friend for years ! There is so much I’m going to miss now that she’s gone but she’s left me with so many awesome memories! She would mow her lawn and I’d tell her ,” Katie now I have to mow mine LOL” she always gave me that push that I needed , I’m going to miss her sharing her new brand of beer with me ,”Joan ! You have to try this blue bud lite haha , so we’d have one , I’m going to miss all the lovely weather she ordered ! Going to miss the walks I went on with her occasionally, haha she was hard to keep up with ,.. Katie always had a smile on her face , never a bad mood ,. I know she loved her family and grandchildren, we’d sit and talk and she’d update me on her grandchildren, how much they’ve grown and how time is going so fast ,. I’m going to miss Katie so much , but I’ll never forget her , although she’s not with us in our physical world , her light still burns brightly!! She is awesome ❤️ Lori, Julie, And Mike , and family , my thoughts and prayers are always with you , and I want you to know that your Mom was also such a big part in my life and I’m so very lucky to have known her ! ❤️🙏
It was a very nice service for Katie. I was privileged to be a pen pal with her. How I enjoyed receiving her letters. Katie is now at peace and reunited with her husband and in the comfort of our Lord. My thoughts remain with Lori and her family as they mourn Katie’s passing. Love and hugs, Linda