Kathryn Grabin

KATHRYN GRABIN

Oxford

Kathryn Gunnette Grabin, 94, passed peacefully away Thursday, March 6, 2014, at Lantern Park Nursing and Rehab Center, Coralville, due to complications of congestive heart failure. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time. A lunch will be served at The Kirkwood Room following the service, with burial at Grabin Cemetery, north of Oxford, later in the day.

Kathryn Vernell Gunnette was born May 12, 1919, in Fulton, Mo., the only child of Vern and Jessie Willey Gunnette. She graduated from City High School, Iowa City, in 1939, and attended the University of Iowa. Kathryn was employed by Collins Radio Co., and lived in Cedar Rapids. On Feb. 6, 1944, she married Vincent Francis Grabin at her parents' home in Iowa City two weeks before Vincent entered the U.S. Army. After Vince returned home from military service in 1946, they made their permanent home on the Paul Erusha family farm, north of Oxford, where his mother had been raised.

Kathryn was a devoted wife and mother, who loved her family and many friends, and cherished the times with them. She loved traveling, reading, listening to music and attending movies and concerts. She was continually busy with a variety of crafts, including making jewelry and braiding room-size woolen rugs for her home. In recent years she has kept herself busy by coloring beautiful velvet posters and watching her favorite old movies. Kathryn had a strong faith in God and her Savior, Jesus Christ, which sustained her throughout her life, and in these final weeks.

Kathryn is survived by her three children, Gayle A. Stratton of Oxford, Samuel S. and wife Sammy Grabin of North Liberty and Sue-Ellen G. and husband Brian Sherman of Morning Sun; and two grandchildren, Benjamin V. and wife Dawn Stratton of New York City, N.Y., and Christopher S. Grabin and Amber Phelps of Homestead. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren, Logan Mikel Grabin of Vinton, Bryten Christopher Grabin and Stormy Marie Bauwens of Homestead and Ava Grace and Quinn William Stratton of New York City; a sister-in-law, Betty Mae Grabin of Coralville; a brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Dorothy Grabin of Oxford; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Vincent on June 19, 2011; two brothers-in law, William Grabin and Joseph Wilson; two sisters-in-law, Elsie Grabin Wilson and Betty June Grabin; and a son-in-law, William Stratton.

Memorial donations may be made to Iowa City Hospice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.