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Horns, Katherine Martha
Katherine Martha Horns, 56, of Des Moines, was born Nov. 26, 1953, in McGregor, to William and Marianne (Ruff) Horns. She attended school in Garnavillo and Elkader, and graduated from Central Community School in 1972. After graduating as a dental assistant from Kirkwood Community College, she worked in Cedar Rapids, Monona, and Elkader before becoming a program coordinator for R.I.S.E. rehabilitation center and a member of the Elkader ambulance service. At the age of 30, she discovered her final, perfectly suited career: nursing. In 1991, she graduated as an RN from Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. She worked in the ICU/CCU and then as a home health care nurse until being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October 2007. Her long, courageous battle ended peacefully March 11, 2010.
A farm girl turned city dweller, Kathy never lost her love of nature and was an active horseback rider and gardener. Her devotion to her family and her horse was paralleled only by her dedication to her profession and her patients. The love and care she showed for her family was reflected in her strong, supportive, and giving nature as a nurse, blessing all those lucky enough to have shared their lives with her.
She is survived by her brother, Ray Horns (Shirley) of Tomah, Wis.; her sister, Linda Kasper (Norm) of Des Moines; her nieces and nephews, Melissa Fettkether (Nick), Michael Horns (Amy), Michelle Kasper and Matthew Horns (Amy); her great-nieces and nephews, Jaime, Jordan, Jacqueline, Jaydn, Alex, Ben and Rebecca; her aunt, Inge Baumgartner; uncle, Irving Horns (Barbara); and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; her brother, Richard Horns; her aunt and uncles, Isle Koehn, Leo Koehn and Earl Baumgartner; and her horse, Nata Moon Shadow.
Kathy, we love ya more.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 15, at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader. Inurnment will follow in East Side Cemetery, Elkader. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Leonard Funeral Home in Elkader.
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