O'Brien, Kathryn Julia

Kathryn Julia O'Brien, 92, of Strawberry Point, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at the Guttenberg Care Center.

She was born Feb. 19, 1920, on the family farm, rural Strawberry Point. She was the 11 and youngest child of Francis and Daisy (Carpenter) Farmer. Kathryn walked to the rural school in the district through eighth grade and attended Strawberry Point High School her freshman year. She continued her education at Elkader High School, graduating in 1937, with a normal training teaching certificate. She was not old enough to teach the following year and opted to stay home to help care for her father, who was in a wheelchair as a result of a paralyzing stroke. She then taught rural school for three years.

On Sept. 13, 1941, she married John M. O'Brien at Sacred Heart Cox Creek Catholic Church, rural Strawberry Point. Four daughters were born to this union: Maureen Bergan (Bernard), Elkader; Karen Recker (Jerry), Lamont; Helen Harford Weber, Guttenberg; and Mary O'Brien-Pritchard (Leslie), La Quinta, Calif.

The O'Briens farmed their Century Farm north of Strawberry Point for 50 years. They were longtime members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Volga. Together they enjoyed dancing, playing cards and a surprise 40th anniversary trip to Ireland from their daughters.

Kathryn was active in the neighborhood Victory Club, as well as entering local radio phone-in and creative writing contests. She represented Wallaces Farmer magazine in Northeast Iowa for 12 years, doing interviews and readership studies. After the death of her husband, she retired to Strawberry Point, where she was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and several card clubs. In 2004, she moved to Tower Living Center in Garnavillo, where she resided until her recent transfer to the Guttenberg Care Center. Survivors include her four daughters; 15 grandchildren, Jeanice Reimer (James), Sheila Bergan, Kevin Bergan (Amy), Patrick Bergan (Charlene), Terry Bergan, Erin Bloomquist (Todd), Ryan Bergan (Bobbie), Kathy Beevers (fiance Troy Miller), Tim Recker (Kristy), Connie Euans (Mike), Lisa Recker, Larry O'Brien, Mike Harford (Sarah), Tony Harford (friend Amanda Schlueter) and Susie Horn (Mark); 24 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husband in May 1991; grandsons, Jeffrey Recker (July 1979) and Steven Bergan (August 1989); grandson-in-law, Wally Beevers (November 2009); sons-in-law, William Harford (October 1979) and Robert Weber (March 2010); sisters, Mamie Miles, Maggie Kellogg, Daisy Kellogg, Nellie Olinger, Clara Farmer and Mae Berns; and brothers, Bryan, Dewey, Edward and Francis Jr.

Online condolences may be left with www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Strawberry Point. Visitation: 4 to 8 p. m. Sunday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Strawberry Point, with a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture service, and also one hour before the service Monday at the church. Interment: Sacred Heart Cox Creek Cemetery, rural Strawberry Point.

Published Sept. 30, 2012 in The Gazette