MENSCH, Kathryn Maureen

MENSCH, OBRIEN, MCCARTY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/5/2013 at 23:21:31

Kathryn Maureen Mensch, age 85, passed away at her long-time home, 1623
South Shore Dr., Clear Lake, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.

Mass of Christian burial for Kathryn was held at St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church Saturday, Aug. 23. Burial was at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery in Mason
City, Iowa.

The family of Kathryn Maureen Mensch has requested that memorial
contributions be directed to the family in her memory.

Maureen was born on April 29, 1923 in Ruthven, Iowa, the daughter of William
(Bill) and Agnes (McCarty) O’Brien. The family moved to Mason City when she was
five. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Schools in Mason City, graduating in
1941.

On Jan. 24, 1943 she was united in marriage to John Edward “Jack” Mensch.
After Jack’s discharge from the Navy, they moved to Iowa. Kathryn and Jack raised
their family of five children in Plymouth, Iowa before moving to Waterloo, Iowa
in 1965.

Maureen’s children, her family, and church were her life. She was involved
in many charitable groups and her kindness and concern were obvious. No one
touched by her good works and generous heart could deny that she lived her life
with dignity and grace. Her faith was shown in her acts as well as her words.

Some of her other favorite things to do were gardening, duplicate bridge
with Jack and with her friends during the week, taking trips with family and
friends, making her outstanding potato salad, and baking her very special
chocolate chip cookies for her children and grandchildren. Anyone coming to
visit could count on a bag of chocolate chip cookies for the ride home.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Kathy (Gene) Watson of Manly,
Iowa, Anne (Denny) Muehlstedt of Clear Lake, Jean Welsford of Muskego, Wis., and
her son, Jerry, of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Linda, Patricia, William, Laura,
Julia, D.J., Amy and Joel; 11 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Betty
(Alvin) Halverson of Mason City, as well as other extended family members and
friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; beloved son, Tom;
brothers, Jack and Marc; and sister, Janice,